Rosemarie “RoRo” L. Ranalli Ferranto
Rosemarie “RoRo” L. Ranalli Ferranto, age 77, of Avondale, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully on September 15th, 2016 surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with ALS.
RoRo was born September 8th,1939. She was the daughter of the late Giacomo “Jack” Ranalli and Natalina Canzano Ranalli, who were first generation mushroom farmers and business owners in Avondale, PA. She was raised on her father’s farm and was a tireless and enterprising steward of the mushroom industry her entire life.
She was the founder and owner of Buona Foods (1972) and Bella Mushroom Farms (1990) in Landenberg, Pennsylvania. She was one of the original pioneers of The Kennett Square Mushroom Festival, a member of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce, a past board member of the Kennett Area Senior Center, a lecturer at St. Gabriel Church, and in 2001, she was acknowledged as one of the “Best 50 Women in Business” in Pennsylvania. RoRo was passionate about everything in life especially her family and her faith, but also about cooking, gardening, going to the beach, playing the slots, and giving back to her community.
She was the wife of Robert “Bear” Ferranto, Sr., with whom she shared 54 wonderful years of marriage.
In addition to her husband, survivors include her son Peter N. Ferranto and his wife Kim of Landenberg; daughter Gale M. Ferranto and her husband Bill Coon of Kennett Square; daughter in law Eileen Palmer of Elkton; sister Victoria Fidanza of Avondale; brother Jack Ranalli of Newark DE; and four beloved grandchildren, Peter Jr., Nicholas, Isabella and Elizabeth. RoRo was predeceased by her son Robert Ferranto, Jr. and her two sisters, Ester and Lucy.
You are invited to visit with RoRo’s family and friends from 6:00-9:00PM Friday, September 23, 2016 and 10:00-11:00AM Saturday, September 24th, at St. Gabriel Of The Sorrowful Mother Church, 8910 Gap Newport Pike, (Route 41) Avondale, PA. 19311. Her Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00AM Saturday, September 24th, at St. Gabriel of The Sorrowful Mother. Interment will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, Kennett Square, PA. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in her memory to The Rosemarie “Ro Ro” Ferranto Fund. The ALS Association, 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002 or contribute online at www.alsphiladelphia.org/RFerranto. www.alsphiladelphia.org/RFerranto
Arrangements are by Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home (610-444-4116) of Kennett Square. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecocares.com
