Rose Lena Brancato Torok, 94, of Chapin, died Thursday, July 20, 2023 at Prisma Health Richland Hospital, surrounded by her family.

Born on July 23, 1928 in Rye, NY, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Antoinette Surace Brancato.

She was a strong and independent woman who lived life with joy and love for her family and others. She was an avid knitter and sewer and enjoyed using her craft as a gift for those she cared about. Rose lived life fully, whether logging thousands of miles in the sidecar of a Harley-Davidson, as she and her husband discovered all 48 contiguous states together, playing canasta with her card groups, or simply spending time with family and being the consummate host.

Rose was also a person of deep faith and was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church.

In addition to making a warm and loving home for her family, Rose worked for many years for Pitney-Bowes in accounts receivable, a role she was not seeking but obtained based on demonstrating a high degree of aptitude and attention to detail.

She is survived by her children, Sharon Catanzaro of Old Greenwich, CT, Stephen Torok (Dianne) of Northford, CT, Susan Burke (Steven) of Chapin, Shirleen Evans (Mark) of Hillsborough, NC and Jonathan Torok of Chapin; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews; and her faithful feline companion Harley.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years, George H. Torok; brother, Joseph Brancato Jr.; sisters, Tess Brancato Caridi and Ann Brancato Tremblay; and her granddaughter, Rosemarie Sweet.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held by the Rev. Dennis B. Willey on Wednesday, August 2, 1:30 PM at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Whitaker Funeral Home in Chapin. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The Mass will be livestreamed from a link in the service information posted below, for those not able to attend in person.

Whitaker Funeral Home is honored to assist the Torok family.