Rosemary T. Argentieri
ROSEMARY T. ARGENTIERI
HORNELL-Rosemary T. Argentieri, 69, owner of the Italian Villa Restaurant, passed away early Thursday morning (Feb. 28. 2008) at her home at 7569 Airport Road.
Born in Hornell on Oct. 25, 1938, she was a daughter of the late Harold and Florence Dougherty Griswold. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, James Griswold, her sister, Betty Cipolla and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Nicholas and Emma Argentieri.
A life long resident of Hornell, Rosemary was a graduate of St. Ann’s School, Hornell High School, class of 1957 and the Continental Beauty School in Buffalo.
During the mid 1970’s she was employed at ACES at Alfred University. For nearly 30 years she has owned and operated the Italian Villa Restaurant at the former K-Mart Plaza and most recently on Seneca Street at the former Big Elms Restaurant. At one time she also owned and operated the former Hornell Tastee-Freeze.
Rosemary was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was a communicant of St. Ann’s Church. She was also a member of St. Ann’s School Alumni Association, the Hornell High School Alumni Association and the Arthur H. Cunningham American Legion Post No. 440 Auxiliary in Hornell.
She will be remembered for her passion for work so that she could provide fine dining for her many loyal patrons and friends.
Her family includes her three children, Deborah (Christopher) Alger of Hornell, Karen Argentieri of Washington, D.C. and Richard Argentieri of Hornell; her four grandchildren, Erica, Samantha and Zachary Alger and Alexandria Argentieri all of Hornell; her former husband, Richard Argentieri of Hornell; her sister, Peggy Griswold of Hornell; her three brothers, Robert Griswold and Paul Griswold both of Hornell and Donald Griswold of Alfred; her three sisters-in-law, Ruth Griswold and Diane Argentieri both of Hornell and Mary Theresa Walsh of Fairport; also her nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling hours are from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Sunday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Friends are invited to meet her family at St. Ann’s Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday. Committal prayers and interment will follow at St. Ann’s Mary’s Cemetery, town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 27 Erie Ave., Hornell, NY 14843 or to Southern Tier Hospice, 11751 E. Corning Road, Corning, NY 14830. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.