Rose Harnick

Rose M. Harnick
32 year cancer survivor


Middlebury, CT Rose M. Harnick, entered into eternal rest surrounded by her family on December 29, 2018 after a long illness. She was the beloved wife of John Harnick for 55 years before his passing in December 2003.

Rose was born in Beacon Falls, CT on March 1, 1923, a daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Kosoriek) Zapatka. She lived in Naugatuck most of her life before moving to Middlebury to live with her son John and daughter in law Nancy.

Rose graduated from Naugatuck High School and retired from Uniroyal, Inc. where she was an office manager. She was a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Naugatuck where she served as a parish clerk and Sunday school teacher and worked at the Lenten Bakery and Village Green Fair. Rose was very active with the Episcopal Church Women, Thursday Niters, Naugatuck Garden Club and Whittemore Library. Her hobbies included reading and gardening and she was also an avid bridge player.

In addition to her son and daughter in law, Rose leaves behind many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and her parents, Rose was predeceased by a brother, Albert Zapatka and four sisters, Mary Carey, Veronica Hibbard, Theresa Zapatka (all from Naugatuck) and Carolyn Gaetz (from Oxford).

The Harnick family would like to acknowledge Leah Prosnick of Oxford for her many years of support and companionship and Middlebury Convalescent Home’s devoted staff, who provided care and comfort to Rose during this very difficult time.

Funeral Services will be Friday at 10:00am at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 210 Church Street, Naugatuck. Everyone is kindly asked to meet at church. Burial will follow in Grove Cemetery. Calling hours are Thursday from 4-7pm at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers and to honor Rose’s memory, contributions can be made to either St. Michael's Church, 210 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770 or to the Middlebury Convalescent Home Patient Activity Fund, 778 Middlebury Road, Middlebury, CT 06762.