Rose Marie Rao Tarver, 77, of Orange, Texas, passed away on March 29, 2019, at her home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Orange. Officiating will be Father Sinclair Oubre. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Orange.

Visitation will be held prior to the mass at 8:30 a.m., with a reciting of the rosary at 9:30 a.m.

Born in Orange, Texas, on December 25, 1941, she was the daughter of Tommie Rao and Josephine (Piccione) Rao. Rose worked as a self-employed florist for many years. She loved being a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church since the inception of the church. Rose made all the flower arrangements for the church for all the different seasons. She was also a key player in organizing and cooking for the St. Joseph’s Altar for many decades. Rose was an active member of the Friends of the Depot serving as secretary and on the board. She also served as the president of the LaDonna Club. Rose was outgoing and enjoyed playing bunco and working in her yard. She always kept a tidy home and she was an amazing cook and baker. She taught many others how to make her special Italian cookies. Rose loved to dress-up for every season and holiday, red being her signature color to wear. She was very family oriented and adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Rose will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Tommie and Josephine Rao; her parents-in-law, Lucille (Tarver) and Jack Whitworth; her brothers-in-law, Cotton Tarver, Gene Tarver, Ottis Tarver, and Glen Tarver; and her sister-in-law, Mildred Riley.

She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Donald Tarver of Orange; her children, Stephen Tarver and wife Janna of Orange, and Tammy Zimmerman of Orange; her grandchildren, Shawn Zimmerman and wife Michelle of Grove, Oklahoma, Whitney Miller and husband Jonathan of Austin, Amy Zimmerman of Orange, and Logan Tarver and wife Hannah of League City; her great-grandchildren, Summer, Emma, Claire; soon-to-be great-grandchildren, Isla, Gwen, and Aidan; and her siblings, Toni Rao Southerlan and husband Paul of Missouri City, and Bernie Rao and wife Marilyn of Folsom, California.

Serving as pallbearers will be Shawn Zimmerman, Logan Tarver, John Tarver, Jonathan Miller, Bobby Baker, and Donny Golf. Honorary pallbearer is Joseph Piccione.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Joseph’s Altar, 912 West Cherry Avenue, Orange, Texas 77630.