Keohane Funeral Home

Rosemary Motta, 74, of Hingham passed away May 18, 2018.

Rosemary was born Nov. 26, 1943 in Boston to the late John A. and Catherine T. Martin. She spent the majority of her life in Hingham, where she graduated from Hingham High School in 1961.

One of Rose’s greatest joys was raising her two children, Alison and Michael — baking and cooking for them from scratch and being involved in their lives and later the lives of her grandchildren.

Once her children were older, she earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Bridgewater State College with high honors.

As in her personal life, Rose found a calling and tremendous satisfaction in her professional life serving others. She chose social work as a vocation that would allow her to put her calling into action. She worked with children and the elderly in her years as a social worker.

She married her devoted companion, Ralph E. Motta in 1985, who was by her side and lovingly cared for her in her lengthy, chronic illness.

Rose searched for and easily found beauty in her life, a value driven by her creative spirit and love of God. She passed her awe of God’s creations to her children and grandchildren and loved tending to her beautiful gardens and spending time by the ocean. Some children in her neighborhood enjoyed visiting Rose while she tended to her gardens and will always remember her when they see butterflies. She always shared her life with a dog and loved walking her chocolate Lab Otis on nature trails.

She expressed her own creativity through collecting art, appreciating music, decorating her home in Crow Point, cooking and sewing.

Rose was a dedicated, lifelong member of St. Paul’s Parish in Hingham, where her beloved cousin the Rev. James F. Rafferty was pastor for 18 years. Rose was proud of and devoted to her Catholic faith. She met some of her many friends from church and her rosary group who were able to help her cross over peacefully during the late stages of her illness.

Rose leaves behind her husband, Ralph E. Motta; children Alison C. DiRienzo and Michael MacLean, both of San Clemente, California; siblings John A. Martin of North Weymouth and Kathleen A. Van Deusen of Lake Oswego, Oregon; and five grandsons Christopher M., Connor J. and Kelan P. Lindahl and Luke and Ryan MacLean. She was predeceased by her sister Mary Lou Baker and also leaves behind many other relatives and a large community of friends.

Prior to her passing, Rose was lovingly cared for by Harbor House and Beacon Hospice and for that her family is grateful.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Friday 9:30-10:30 AM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), HINGHAM followed by the funeral Mass in St. Paul’s Church, Hingham at 11 AM. Burial in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Hingham. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Rose may be made to Friends of the Unborn at Friendsoftheunborn.org or at P.O. Box 692246,Quincy MA 02269.