Rose Ann May

Rose Ann May (nee Minock), a resident of Four Seasons Sea Oaks 55+ Community in Little Egg Harbor, NJ, passed away at Jersey Shore Medical Center on June 6, 2025, just prior to her 96th birthday. Rose was born in Trenton, NJ, the fourth of five children of Anna (nee Chopin) and Jacob Minock, both recent US Citizens from Slovakia. Rose’s family moved to Yardville where she spent her teenage years.

Energetic, enthusiastic, and enterprising, Rose enjoyed working part-time throughout her high school years, and after graduating in 1947 from Hamilton High in Trenton and then business trade school, Rose began a career in secretarial work. It was soon thereafter that Rose met the love of her life, John F. May, a newly returned veteran after having served in the Army Corps of Engineers, European Theater of WWII. They married in May of 1949 and started a family soon thereafter, raising four children together in Bordentown, NJ. Despite being a young mother with four small children, Rose somehow also still found time to work outside the home – which she loved doing. She obtained her Realtor License, sold Beauty Counselor Cosmetics, and sold vitamin supplements.

Rose was a consummate cook and entertainer, throwing dinner parties for a house full of guests with apparent effortless ease, in her element while doing so, and always elegantly dressed for whatever the occasion wherever she went. The home of Rose and John May was considered by all their friends and close family as their welcome gathering place, with impromptu parties happening on an almost weekly basis when guests would stop by just to say hi.

After her children reached school age, Rose returned to working full-time in her original secretarial career, employed by the Teamsters Union where she was soon promoted to office manager. Several years later she accepted a position at New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts in Trenton, rising to Administrative Assistant where she continued until her retirement in 1992. In 1969, the May Family moved from Bordentown to Robbinsville where Rose and her husband John stayed until they became empty-nesters, moving in 2004 to Sea Oaks in Little Egg Harbor.

Always socially active and engaged until the very end, Rose was a valued member of the Sea Oaks Bocce Team, Italian Club, and most recently a choir group. Rose loved the exciting atmosphere of the Atlantic City casino scene, as well as being outdoors whether it was ice skating in the winter which she greatly enjoyed in her younger years, or being at the beach which was by far her favorite outdoor place to be. Without question, though, Rose’s family was what she treasured the most throughout her life. Her devotion, love, and affection to each of her family members – especially her children, grandchildren, and great-grandson – was unwavering, and happily returned back to her, adding to the quality of her life and youthful outlook and spirit that was her characteristic trademark.

Rose is predeceased by her loving husband of 60 years, John, who passed in 2010, as well as son Thomas in 1988; all of her brothers and sisters; and post-widowhood companion of 10 years, Charles Corello. She is survived by daughter Kathleen and son-in-law Michael Szul; grandson Zachary Szul; daughter Joyce May; daughter Janet and son-in-law Gregory Young; granddaughter Kaylin and grandson-in-law Patrick Prescott; granddaughter Elizabeth Young and grandson-in-law Timothy Miller, and great-grandson Wesley Miller; daughter-in-law Karen May; granddaughter Katie Grammes, and numerous extended family members and friends.

All family and friends are invited to visit on Thursday, June 19, 2025, from 9:00 to 10:30am at Maxwell Funeral Home, 160 Mathistown Rd., Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11am at St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church, 450 Radio Rd., Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087. Burial will be Friday, June 20, 2025 at 12:45pm, Princeton Memorial Park, Robbinsville, NJ. Memorial donations in honor of Rose May are very welcome, to Interfaith Health and Support Services of Southern Ocean County, with online access available at: https://www.interfaithsoc.org/donate/

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