Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Rosina "Rose" Smiroldo, 90, affectionately known as "Nonna," a resident of Annapolis, Maryland for eleven years and previously of the DC metropolitan area for approximately 50 years, died of natural causes on August 17 at Heritage Harbor Health Center, where she was cared for by a kind and attentive staff. 


Rose was born May 29, 1918, in Providence, Rhode Island to the late Pasquale and Giovannini Esposito of Naples Italy. Shortly after her birth, her family moved to New York City, where she grew up. She moved to Washington, D.C. with her brother in the 1940s. In 1952, she married her now deceased former husband Carmelo Smiroldo, to whom she was married for 27 years and with whom she had two children. 


Ms. Smiroldo, short, fiery and warm, was known for her strong character, indomitable spirit, unpredictable sense of humor and fantastic insults. She was an affectionate mother and a devoted grandmother loyally anchoring her family for many years. Known for preparing yummy Italian dishes, during the 1960s and 1970s, she cooked for the Sisters of the Holy Cross at Assumption Parish and for the priests of the Saint Thomas Moore rectory both located in S.E. Washington, D.C.. She retired from the U.S. Government in 1987. 


Survivors include her daughter, Michele "Dusty" Strong-Carton and her caring husband Steve Carton of Riva Maryland; her son Charles Michael Smiroldo and his loving wife Michelle of Crofton, Maryland; twelve grandchildren, Michael Harding, Jr., Johnny Strong, Douglas Strong, Joanie Strong, Joshua Carton, Ethan Carton, Geena Smiroldo, Nichole Smiroldo, Moses Smiroldo, Paul Smiroldo, Maria Smiroldo and Samuel Smiroldo, all of whom reside in Anne Arundel County; and two great grandchildren Victoria Harding and Antonio Lee Strong. 


Family and friends may visit August 21 from 2-4pm or 7-9 pm, at the George P. Kalas funeral home at 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, Maryland, where the funeral will begin at 11am on August 22. Interment Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church Cemetery in West River, MD.

Rose Smiroldo

Rose Smiroldo

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