ATHENS — Rose Anne Morella Dikis, 74, passed away at the home of her son and his wife in Albany on March 30, 2023, after a brief illness.
Rose was born September 22, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan, to Norman and Mary Morella. Rose grew up in Parma and Fairview Park and graduated from Magnificat High School and Ohio University, where she also received her MBA. She worked at Higbee’s, Ford Motor Company, Ohio University and Mount Union College. Rose was active in the community as one of the founding board members of My Sister’s Place and as a volunteer for the West Elementary PTO. She returned to Athens in 1989 and briefly taught at Ohio University again before a life-altering automobile accident in 1990. Even after the accident, Rose stayed active in the community, serving on the Athens City Commission on Disabilities.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Mary Morella; a sister, Jeanne Morella; and lifelong friend Kathlee Link Fitzgerald.
She is survived by her husband Martin Dikis; children Lauren, Ben (Heather), and Greg; loving grandchildren; siblings Mary Lou (Irv Epstein) Morella, Gerri (Gary) Zaleski, Mark (Barb) Morella and Rob (Laurie) Morella; and lifelong friends Jody Hanson, Kris Kridel, Arlene Sheak, Berry Dilley and Carolyn Bailey Lewis.
Visitation and memorial service will be 4–6 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens. Please bring a memory to share at the memorial service or online at www.jagersfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to My Sister’s Place (www.msplaceathens.org) or the Athens County Foundation (www.athensfoundation.com).
