Rose Mary Johnson

Rose M. Johnson, 81, of Colonie, New York, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of love, laughter, and tender memories.

Born August 14, 1944, in Boght Corners, New York, Rose was the cherished daughter of the late Ovila and Julia (Hayes) LaRochelle. In 1964, she married the love of her life, Jack D. Johnson, and together they built a home overflowing with warmth and devotion. Rose’s greatest joy was her family—she made every holiday brighter, every gathering cozier, and every ordinary day feel special.

Rose is lovingly survived by her children, Jack D. (Lisa) Johnson, Jr., Steven E. (Geraldine) Johnson, Mark C. Johnson (Lori Nicola), and Daniel P. (Anne) Johnson; her granddaughter, Rianne (Erik) Geilenkirchen; her sister, Ann (Ross) McKersie; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins who will forever carry her tenacious spirit in their hearts. She was predeceased by her husband, Jack; her son, Matthew; her brother, William J. LaRochelle; and her sisters, Diane Ghetti and Joan Dawson.

A true Capital Region daughter, Rose was raised in Cohoes and spent her life creating traditions that stitched generations together. Summers at Lac-du-Cerf—filled with camping, card games, and sun-soaked laughter with siblings Bill, Ann, Diane, and Joan—became beloved rituals she lovingly passed on to her own family in the Adirondacks. Longtime friends Bill and Lynn O’Brien shared in countless adventures that turned into treasured stories told for years.

Rose had a tender heart for animals and found joy in the soft company of her cats. It is hard to recall a time when she did not have a box of Temptations treats that she would shake for her purring friends.

For more than twenty years, she quietly served the residents at The Little Sisters of the Poor, Our Lady of Hope Residence, as a dietitian. Even at home, Rose’s kitchen was the heart of family celebrations—her lasagna was requested for birthdays, and her seven-layer salad was eagerly anticipated at every party. Her sister, Ann, called her a “tremendous cook” and still cherishes many of Rose’s handwritten recipes. Even outside the kitchen, she poured love into everything she made. A devoted crocheter, Rose crafted a baby blanket for each of her sons and for many nieces and nephews; even in her final days, an unfinished blanket was found among her things, a beautiful reminder of love in progress. Her various gardens bloomed with her namesake roses, rose-of-Sharon, and soft pussy willows—each stem a quiet testament to her care. She filled Christmas trees with angels she collected and created and, as it was discovered, saved every one of her sons’ childhood crafts.

Rose had a spunky side, too—often challenging online friends to competitive games of Words with Friends and staying up well past midnight to catch quirky sci-fi films that tickled her fancy.

She loved music and would sing along with Josh Groban or the hymns of Mass, such as “Here I Am, Lord” and “On Eagle’s Wings.” Even as her eyesight faded, she found comfort in her music.

Calling hours will be held on June 21, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. with a service to immediately follow at New Comer Cremations and Funerals in Watervliet, New York. Interment will be held at a later date at St. Agnes Cemetery in Cohoes, New York.

Rose’s life was a gentle lesson in love—how simple acts, steadfast presence, and a warm home can shape and sustain a family. Those who knew her will remember her kindness, her homemade blankets, her garden in bloom, and a laugh that made everyone feel, just for a moment, like they were home.