Alberta (Sylvia) Rose, affectionately known as Betty by all, died at her home in Oak Bluffs on Oct. 30, surrounded by the love and the presence of her family. She was 94 and the matriarch of the Rose family.

Betty was born at home in Oak Bluffs on April 1, 1918, the daughter of the late Albert E. Sylvia Jr. and Celia E. (Swartz). She attended school in Oak Bluffs. She married Manuel P. Rose on Nov. 19, 1938 at Sacred Heart Church. They were the parents of Robert E. Rose, the late Clifford M. Rose, Kenneth A. Rose, Albert E. Rose and Dennis J. Rose.

She was a homemaker for most of the year, but from early spring through late autumn worked in Harthaven, caring for most of the families for several generations. She and Manny were caretakers for the homes in Harthaven; she cooked for the families, prepared hors d’oeuvres for their parties, catered their birthday parties and weddings, cared for their children and grandchildren and oversaw just about everyone in Harthaven.

In the winters Betty and Manny would travel to Dania, Fla. for three months where they were surrounded by their Vineyard avenue neighbors who were also in Dania for three months. In the 1980s they purchased a home in Lake Worth, Fla. across the street from her cousin Mary Jane (Amaral) Bergeron and her husband Eugene where most Vineyarders would visit and gather throughout the winter.

Betty always delighted in visits from her large and extended family on the Vineyard and from across New England. Her walls were filled with photographs of her family. She took great pleasure in sharing her family recipes, in telling stories of growing up in Oak Bluffs and the changes over the past 90 years, and especially sharing her family history. She was always very proud of the accomplishments of her uncle Rep. Joseph A. Sylvia and his three decades of service to the Vineyard. She was very proud of her family with their involvement in the Oak Bluffs Fire Department, their work with the Oak Bluffs Highway Department and now as Oak Bluffs Emergency Medical Technicians.

In recent years she enjoyed the luncheons and activities at the Oak Bluffs Senior Center. She was a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church.

Betty is survived by her sons Robert Rose and his wife Janice of Oak Bluffs, Kenneth Rose of Maine, Albert Rose of Oak Bluffs and Dennis Rose of Oak Bluffs. She is survived by her brothers Albert Sylvia and his wife Frances of North Reading, Robert Sylvia and his wife Pearl of Falmouth, and her sister Eileen White and her husband George of Oak Bluffs, as well as by many nieces and nephews and cousins.

She is also survived by her grandchildren Donna, Robert, Richard, John, Manuel, Trulayna, Krystle, Chandler, Angela, Jessica, Beth, Tabitha, Tracy, and Tony, as well as 26 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband Manuel, her son Clifford, her grandson Dennis Rose Jr., and by her sister Dorothy and her husband John Riley.

Her family is very grateful and appreciative of the care and concern she received from Jyl Manning, Joann Kinnecom Murphy, Alice Rose, Evelyn DeBettencourt, Wendy Rose, Barbara Magnuson Phillips, Dr. John Lamb, Hope Hospice and the Visiting Nurse Association.

Funeral services will be held on Nov. 2 with visitation at Chapman, Cole, and Gleason Funeral Home from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Her funeral mass, conducted by Rev. Michael Nagle, will be celebrated at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church on Massasoit avenue following the visitation. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery on Vineyard avenue in Oak Bluffs. A gathering will follow at the P.A. Club on Vineyard avenue. Please bring a dish to share.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Betty’s memory would be appreciated to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services (111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568), the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging (21 Wamsutta avenue, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557) or the Holy Ghost Society Scholarship Fund (P.O. Box 2307, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.