Obituary of Rosemarie A. Turnbull

Rosemarie “Ro” A. Turnbull, 75, passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones on June 1, 2022. Born and raised in Schenectady, NY to her late parents, Frank and Angelina (Fusco) Nappi. A 1964 graduate of Linton High School, she continued her education in cosmetology. 

Ro worked as a hairdresser at Ida’s Hair Salon in Rotterdam, NY before entering the hospitality business as a banquet coordinator at the former Willows Country Club in Rexford, NY. Throughout her life, Ro continued using her cosmetology license part-time for a handful of cherished clients. 

She was a loving mother to two children. Rosemarie raised her children in the Capital Region, and for a short period they lived in Binghamton, NY where Ro worked for Grand Union. When they moved back to the local area in the mid-1980s, Ro opened her home and heart with an out of home daycare. 

Ro was a well-known Italian cook; she was famous for her meatballs and specialty hot bread. When Governor Mario Cuomo and his wife, Matilda, lived in the Governor’s mansion they wanted authentic Italian food coming out of their kitchen. Ro became the weekend cook for those special Italian occasions and stayed employed at the mansion through part of Governor Pataki’s time in office. 

From 1999 to her retirement in 2020, Ro worked for New York State at the Justice Center (formerly known as Commission of Quality Care) in Schenectady and Delmar offices.

In her spare time, she focused all her energy on her family and friends. She was the proud grandmother of Jerrion Turnbull, and never missed one of his sport or school events at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake CSD. She was an active member of the Pashley PTA and BHBL Booster Club. Ro had an Italian spitfire personality, one enjoyed by so many people, as well as memorably got her ejected at one of her grandsons’ basketball games! She loved watching sports and really got into spirit; her favorite team was the New York Yankees, but her favorite athlete was her grandson. After her sporting events, she enjoyed going to the Old Homestead with her fellow booster club members and family.

For many years, she was a parishioner of St. Anthony’s Church in Schenectady. Her family remembers Ro as the strong matriarch of her family, who loved Sunday dinners and holidays spent with loved ones; memorable concerts and vacations, particularly in Maine; as well as being a huge Tom Selleck and “Blue Bloods” fan. 

Rosemarie is survived by her daughter, Renee Turnbull; the light of her life, her grandson, Jerrion Turnbull; son, Ryan (Jenna) Turnbull and their two sons; brother, Onnie (Rosalie)) Nappi and sister, Carmel Lavergne. Rosemarie is also survived by nieces, nephews, and a large extended family from both of her parents’ sides of the family. She is predeceased by her brother-in-law, Louis Lavergne; sister-in-law, Christine Conkling; ex-husband, Gary Turnbull; cousins, Sandy Nappi, Nancy Nappi, Thomas Nappi and Carl Nappi Jr; good friends, Joanne McDonald, Louise DiDonna and Lee Ramsey; and so many loved ones who she is now reunited with.

Public calling hours will be held at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd. on Monday, June 6th from 10 to 11:45 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 12:30 PM at St. Anthony’s Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to a specific fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Please write in memo: C/O Ryan Galvin's Team Albany, address for mail donation: Four Gateway Center, 444 Liberty Avenue Suite 1300 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 OR online donations at https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/HeartWalk/FDA-FoundersAffiliate?team_id=683106&pg=team&fr_id=6428

Online condolences may be made at glenvillefuneralhome.com