NAPLES — Rose R. Cox, 80, passed away peacefully at her home on Nov. 27, 2010, with her loving family by her side after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Rose was born on June 26, 1930, at the family farm on Paris Hill. She attended school in South Paris and graduated from Paris High School in 1949. Rose worked for many years at Wilner Wood Products and also was employed by Burnham & Morrill Company, Paris Manufacturing Company, Norway Nursing Home, Norway Shoe Shop and also worked as a mail carrier in Waterford.

She married the late Jere Cox in 1967 and lived in North Norway for many years before moving to Waterford until the passing of her husband. She then moved to Naples to live with her son, daughter, and son-in-law.

Rose was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who always put everyone else’s needs before her own. Rose had many interests in life from canning vegetables, cooking, reading, snowmobiling, ceramics, and since moving to Naples, boating on Sebago Lake with her family.

Rose is survived by her son, Randal Millett; her daughter, Rosemarie Dyer of Naples; her three granddaughters and two great-grandchildren; her sister, Jeannette Truman; her niece and nephew; and her stepchildren, Joan Morgan, Jane Kimball, Joline Witham, Janice Buck and Jerald Cox.

Rose was predeceased by her husband, Jere Cox; mother, Hilda Matthews; father, Laurie Ronkko; and brothers, Eino Ronkko, Raymond Ronkko and Albert Ronkko.

Funeral services will be held at Chandler Funeral Home, 45 Main Street, South Paris, on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. Visitation was held Wednesday. Interment will be a private ceremony for close family and friends at the Norway Center Cemetery. Online messages of sympathy may be left for her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Southern Maine Hospice, 180 U.S. Rte. 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.