Rose Cummings

On Thursday, December 7th, Rose Cummings passed away at the age of 87, with a heart of peace and her beloved family around her. A devoted mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, Rose’s shining inner light warmed the hearts of all those who met her, and she remained a pillar of true brilliance to the very end.
Born to Sam and Zelda Zimmerman on March 30, 1936, Rose was a testament to the goodness of the world. During her youth, she was often found playing with her older sister Peggy or running through Rockaway Beach with her siblings and friends. As she grew older, she cultivated her love for reading throughout her time at Stella Maris High School, where she graduated in 1954. This love for reading persisted into her elderly years, and she could often be found with a book at any time or place.
In 1954, Rose met the love of her life and her future husband of 61 years, Jack Cummings. Rose was utterly smitten with him from the very beginning, and on Christmas Eve of 1955, she did not hesitate to say yes! In October of 1956, the two married at St. Camillus Church with all of their friends and family to celebrate. Afterwards, the two Rockaway natives lived in their hometown and welcomed three children: Kevin, Patricia, and Loretta. They moved to California for Jack’s job, and Rose and Jack lived there for four years, where they had one more child, John. Then finally, the growing Cummings family settled in Smithtown, New York, where their children Christopher and Rose Mary were born, and where they lived for almost 50 years.
Throughout her life, as a little girl, young lady, mother, and finally, grandmother, Rose unfailingly devoted herself to the care and service of not only her family and friends, but her entire community. She was a faithful member of the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, where she and Jack participated in various organizations and fostered their family’s Catholic faith. She was also a prolific donor, especially in her later years, to many charities that treasured her help immensely. Truly, her impact on the world around her was stunning and beautiful.
As a grandmother to nine (and a great-grandmother to one!) Rose was always caring, loving, and very fun. Between trips to amusement parks, beach vacations, and fantastic Christmas gifts, she formed precious bonds with the youngest members of her family, and also became a role model of strength, devotion, and endurance. She taught them to be grateful of each and everything they had; to make the most out of every moment; and most importantly, to never stop helping those around them.