Rose Lagana

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Rose Marie Lagana, 96, of Lake St. Louis, passed away on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at the Cottages of Lake St. Louis, where she resided since June 14, 2021 in Betty Cottage.

She was born to the late John and Mary Frances (Hagner) Zink on August 12, 1925 in St. Louis. Rose graduated from Rosati-Kain High School in 1943. She started her career in nursing after graduating from St. John’s Mercy School of Nursing.

Rose married the late Charles Joseph Lagana, Jr., on Nov. 28, 1947 in St. Louis. They resided in St. Louis until they later moved to Troy. After retirement, they moved to Lake St. Louis.

Rose is survived by two daughters, Cheri Ann Purpura Thurman of Wentzville, and Diane Marie (Gerald) Witthaus of Montgomery City; five grandchildren, Angela (Cesar) Keller, Eric (Elizabeth Yoder) Witthaus, Dr. Matthew Witthaus, Dominic Purpura and Gina (Brad Jaehn) Purpura; and three great-grandchildren, Audrey, Miguel and Annabelle Keller.

Rose was preceded in death by her son, Charles Joseph Lagana, III.

Rose raised three children while being a devoted nurse. She began her nursing career at the Old St. John’s Mercy Hospital and then helped move the hospital to South New Ballas Road. After moving to Troy, she filled almost every nursing job there was at Lincoln County Memorial Hospital (as it was called then).

She belonged to the 15th District Nurses Association, where she held many elected state and local offices. She belonged to the Business Professional Women (BPW), where she was awarded Woman of the Year in Lincoln County. She was awarded with the 1989 Volunteer of the Year Award by the American Cancer Society. She was very involved in her communities and churches, helping with multiple fundraising activities. The latest church organization that she was a member of was the YAC’s at St. Patrick’s in Wentzville.

Visitation is scheduled from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. on June 21 at Pitman Funeral Home in Wentzville.

Funeral services are scheduled at 9 a.m. on June 22 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wentzville. Burial will follow at 10:45 a.m. at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.


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