Venice Jane Rock

01/26/2004

Venice Jane Rock, 100, of 23 Upper Sargent Road died Monday at home. Born in Holyoke on May 16, 1903, daughter of James (Jacques) J. Madru and Mary A. Kern Madru Rock, she attended schools in Huntington until leaving at age 14 to work in the mills to help her family. She later lived in Lynn and Saugus until she and her husband, Henry Earl Rock Sr., bought a farm at 61 Middlefield Road in the 1930s. She went to live with her daughter, Mary Jane Methe, two years ago. Besides working on her farm, Mrs. Rock helped out with the lunch program in the Washington schools. She was a communicant of St. Matthew's Church in Becket and St. Patrick's Church in Hinsdale. She was a former member and treasurer of the Washington School Committee, and a life member of the VFW Women's Auxiliary of Becket. After retiring, she and her husband traveled around the country and spent winters in Florida. Her husband, whom she married Nov. 15, 1926, in St. Thomas' Church in Huntington, died May 8, 1984. Besides her daughter, she leaves three sons, Henry E. Rock Jr. of Middlefield, Joseph A. Rock of Lee and Louis W. Rock of Becket; two other daughters, Margaret E. Lynch and Cecilia A. Rock, both of Pittsfield; a sister, Gladys Carmel of Hyannis; 38 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by two daughters, Flora A. Ellsworth and Therese A. Flynn, and by a son, John A. Rock. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Services for Mrs. Venice J. Madru Rock, 100, who died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her loving family on Jan. 26, 2004, will be held Friday at 9:15 from DERY-FOLEY FUNERAL HOME, 890 East Main St., Dalton, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 at St. Agnes' Church, Dalton, by the Rev. Christopher Malatesta, pastor. Burial will be in the spring in Washington Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday from 4 to 8 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to HospiceCare in the Berkshires, Elder Services or St. Matthew's Church, all in care of the funeral home. She was predeceased by five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three brothers, John and James Madru and Peter Rock; two sisters, Alice Giltrop and Clarice Grant, and her stepfather, Louis Rock.

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