Dreher, Rose E.

Rose E. Dreher (LaForce)

7/9/1924 – 8/19/2024

Webster: Passed away on 8/19/2024 at The Maplewood Nursing Home with loving family at her side. 

Predeceased by husband Donald Dreher, brothers Charles and Walter LaForce, daughter and son-in-law Margaret and Jimmy Johnson, and daughter-in-law Suzanne Dreher. 

Rose is survived by sons Raymond (Elaine Tunaitis) and Paul; daughters Donna (Tom) Dwyer, Katherine, and Janet (Tom) Anthony, 13 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. 

Rose grew up off Ridgeway Ave in the city of Rochester with her parents and two younger brothers.  She attended John Marshall High School and graduated in 1942.  After high school, Rose worked at Kodak.  Shortly after starting work, she met and married Donald Dreher in 1946.  They settled in Gates where they raised their 6 children. Rose belonged to St Helen’s Church and volunteered there. 

 Rose and Don enjoyed traveling with their family and friends which included many cruises and cross-country driving trips.  They frequented national parks, Europe, and the Caribbean.  They owned a home in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands in the hopes of one day moving the family there, although they built a life they loved in Rochester and never made the move to St. Thomas.  As their family grew, they spent time traveling with their children and grandchildren, spending summer vacations in the Finger Lakes or the Adirondacks. One of our fondest memories is when they brought the whole family (28 people) to Walt Disney World for Christmas and New Year’s 2000. 

In her spare time, she enjoyed playing bridge with neighbors and friends. She was a great scrabble player and also enjoyed working on puzzles.  Competitive streak never ending, Rose is best known as an avid bowler, serving as VP of the Rochester Women’s Bowling Association for 10 years and participating in bowling leagues well into her 80s. She was inducted into the Bowling Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service in 1992. She bowled in 37 national tournaments and once bowled on Bowling for Dollars. Rose was a real estate agent with King Arthur Realty in her fifties. She proudly served as a member of the Gates Lion’s Club where she earned the Melvin Jones Award. 

They were the owners of Sunset Valley Manufactured Home Community in Webster for 30 years.

Rose and Don bought a cottage on Conesus Lake and remodeled it into their home that they enjoyed for over 25 years. Their Lake Home was “party central” for many family and friend gatherings. They hosted several events like family reunions, fraternity parties, bowling parties, Lion’s Club parties as well as many family gatherings and holidays. 

Rose and Don often opened their home and hearts to many extended family members, boyfriends, girlfriends, spouses and even ex-spouses of their children!

At the ripe young ages of 81 and 86 they decided to build a home in Webster where they lived from 2006 until 2020. 

Rose cherished her family and friends. She attended many events of her children and grandchildren. We cannot begin to count the number of birthdays, baptisms, first communions, confirmations, school graduations, showers, weddings that she attended with family and friends. She really took pride in all her children’s and grandchildren’s events and achievements, watching them grow and mature. 

Rose was our mother, the matriarch of our family. We all feel so lucky to have been raised by such an amazing mother and woman. She will be truly missed by all who love her!

We wish to thank the staff of The Maplewood Nursing Home for the care they provided our mother, they were compassionate, loving and always treated her with dignity. 

Calling Hours Friday August 23, 2024 4-7PM at the Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home (Egypt Location) 7501 Pittsford Palmyra Road, Fairport. Funeral Mass Saturday August 24, 2024 10AM at St. John of Rochester Church 8 Wickford Way, Fairport.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rose’s memory to the Gates – Greece Lions Club.