Mrs. Rosa P. Madarasz

Rosa P. Madarasz, age 90 years, of Coxsackie, passed away on November 26, 2017, at home. She was born on July 14, 1927, in Budapest, and is the daughter of the late Vincent and Maria (Flatsker) Poturnay. Rosa Madarasz was an artist and an ice skater. With her husband Gyula Madarasz they were the national ice dancing champions of Hungary between 1950 and 1956. Like her husband, Rosa was a consummate athlete and medal winner in rowing as well. After the repression of the 1956 revolt in Hungary, she, with her husband and ten year old child escaped to Austria on bicycles. They sought and received asylum in the United States and were contracted with Holiday on Ice with which they toured the eastern states. Later they settled for a few years in New York City. In 1964 they found their true place in the town of Coxsackie and bought the old James Saunders property on Route 385. The first project to be completed was a natural ice skating rink to which all who sought to come were welcomed. Rose would prepare hot chocolate for the children and all cooperated in helping with keeping the ice in good condition. There was music, lights and general comradely. Rose and her husband were generous in the advice and assistance in helping youngsters improve their skills. They eventually volunteered to teach skating at the Albany Boys Academy. Although this was gratifying activity, it took much time from their work of painting. As their preferred leisure time project they refurbished the house and developed the grounds to what they are today. It was a labor of love and stands to their memory. Rosa was a master with not just the paint brush on canvass but also the trowel, the sander and the spatula with which she made perfect walls hardly needing sanding. There was nothing that was impossible. All you needed was good thinking and application of copious energy. A believer in helping where she could, encouraging when needed and down right pushing where nothing else would work, she was a formidable dynamo behind causes she espoused. Cleaning up Four Mile Point Road was her proposed project, and with the Town’s generous cooperation it was accomplished in record time. She was a gracious hostess, a good friend and her hospitality knew no limits. Though in the last several years she suffered from Alzheimers, she never became morose, she retained her good humor and pleasant nature. She is a beloved grand mother. Though her name appears as Rosa, she was known to her friends as Rose. To her family as Grandma Rosie. When her son-in- law, who was three years her junior, was first introduced to her, having been warned that she was somewhat straight laced, and that there were three words she especially disliked: “baby”, “Honey” and “Rosie”, he greeted her with Hello " Rosie honey baby”. Her brows knitted, a dark look came over her eyes, and then she burst out laughing. That broke the ice and "Grandma Rosie” stuck. Survivors include her daughter Kinga LaChapelle, grandchildren William (Debra Kowalski) and Michael LaChapelle (Davia), three great grandchildren: Dustin (Amy) , Casey (Liana) and Cody LaChapelle, and two great great grandchildren Quinn and Grace LaChapelle. Also surviving are her relatives in Hungary, two sisters Eva Istvanfalvi and Maria and two nephews Laszo and Viktor and her niece Yvet all of Hungary. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend calling hours at The W.C. Brady’s Sons, Inc. Funeral Home, 97 Mansion Street, Coxsackie, NY on Thursday, November 30, 2017 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Contributions in her memory may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association, 4 Pine West Plaza # 405, Albany, N.Y. 12205. Condolences may be made at www.wcbradyssonsinc.net.

Mrs. Rosa P. Madarasz

July 14, 1927 - November 26, 2017