Rose C. Sciara's Obituary
Sciara, Matriarch of Sciara family Restaurant’s dies at 93. Rose P. (MamaRose) Sciara whose shops and restaurants fed Memphians for almost 60 years died Wednesday at Indian River Medical Center. She was 93. Sciara’s success in the food business grew from humble beginnings and the influence of her Sicilian family. In concert with her husband Sam (died in 1993) she influenced her son and grandchildren to enter the restaurant business. MamaRose was born in 1920 in South Memphis. At 16 she married the love of her life Sam and began their trek into Memphis food service history. Along their journey, they peddled fruit on the streets of Memphis, opened a fruit stand on Main Street which grew into Sam’s Fruit and Sandwich Shop. In 1949 they opened Sam’s Spaghetti House at 73 Poplar Avenue, where they gave local bandleader Tony Barrasso his start playing accordion. In 1954, after a fire destroyed the Spaghetti House, they opened Sam’s Italian Villa, where it is reported that entertainers Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Danny Thomas and Rita Hayworth dined. In 1960, son Pete joined the family business and they opened another Villa at Poplar and Perkins that remained a dining favorite for 11 years. This venture led to the 1976 opening of Palazzino’s at 6155 Poplar which remained a crowd pleaser until closing in 1986. Palazzino’s was remodeled and opened with a new concept and name, Cafe’ Max at 6161 Poplar and the third generation of grandsons and granddaughters joined the family business. This venture also proved to be Memphis dining favorite for many years. MamaRose was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church. She leaves behind her son Pete and daughter in law Mary, 6 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren. Her beautiful smile, her kind, compassionate, and youthful personality touched many lives in her 93 years. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, September 15 at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Poplar, with rosary service to follow at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16 at St. Louis Catholic Church with graveside services at Memorial Park Cemetery to follow. MamaRose’s final words were “I Love You All”!Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, “Behind the Stone Wall.”
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