Rose Cecilia Stuart née Faughnan, “the Duchess”, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 24, 2022. She was surrounded by her family.

Rose was born in 1931 in Passaic, New Jersey to John Francis Faughnan, Jr. and Frances Cecilia Faughnan née Cavanagh. Her father was a lawyer and her mother was a homemaker. Though she spent the final years of her life in Indiana and Connecticut, she would always remain a true Jersey girl at heart.

Always an intellectual, Rose attended St. Vincent’s Academy in Newark. She earned her bachelor’s in Chemistry from the College of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station, New Jersey. She married in 1952, had five children, and divorced in 1978. Rose returned to school and graduated with a Masters of School Psychology in 1973. As a lifelong lover of learning, she would go on to get two additional Masters degrees, both also in Psychology. She worked as a teacher at Girl’s Catholic in Roselle and later a school psychologist in the Sayreville public school system until she retired in 1996.

Rose remained close to her friends from St. Elizabeth throughout life. She was an active participant in the American Association of University Women. She was a frequent political donor, staunch advocate for women’s rights, and a lifelong Democrat. She traveled throughout her retirement, including visits to Australia, France, and England.

Rose loved genealogy, presidential biographies, musicals, the New York Times, Jeopardy, crosswords, and red wine. She was an avid storyteller and was particular about everything, but especially her tea, potato chips, and Dove chocolate. She relished hearing about the accomplishments of her grandchildren.

Her nickname, “the Duchess”, finds its origin in the large and close-knit family that she leaves behind. She is survived by daughter Mary and husband Bob; daughter Patricia and husband Doug; daughter Regina; son William and fiancée Nancy; son John and wife Laura. She leaves behind a plethora of loving grandchildren: Kevin (Dawn), Julianne, Ryan (Cat), Genevieve, Eric (Jessica), Alexander, Alexandra, Katherine, Francesca (Tyler), Rebecca, Jack, Anna, Celia, Thomas and one great-grandchild, Silas.

Rose would never forget to call and sing “Happy Birthday” to her grandchildren on each of their birthdays. We will miss her story telling, her happy-birthday calls, and her inquisitive mind. She will be with us every time the warm New Jersey sun shines and each time we eat a Jersey peach.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to Planned Parenthood or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation. To send an online expression of sympathy, please visit www.adamscremationct.com