It began in Danbury, when Rosy was orphaned as a young girl. She was taken in to help with household chores by a family which owned the local hat factory. The head cook, sensing Rosy’s energy and determination, took Rosy under her wing. Together they catered savory fare for innumerable parties, where Rosy learned firsthand how flavorful food could bring pleasure to the table.
Having gained a wealth of culinary knowledge, and desperate to be self sufficient, she opened a booth at the Great Danbury Fair in 1915. Not being able to afford a booth in the food pavilion, a stroke of luck put her as the only booth next to the beer dispensing pavilion and her sales of food specialties soared as thirsty patrons easily found her. Her real American menu drew crowds of hungry devotees year after year and her fame increased.
When weary soldiers returned home from the war in Europe, Rosy organized a group of patriotic women to greet these heroes at the local railway station and present them with an overflowing wicker basket of roast chicken, crusty breads, homemade soups, local cheeses, fresh baked apple pies, and of course, a couple of cold bottles of frosty beer! These soldiers were desperate for a taste of home. Her fame as a patriot spread quickly to national levels and before long women volunteered to help her with baskets at other railway stations. Rosy delighted the soldiers with her radiant smile, her warmth, and her energy as she embraced them in her happiness to have them share in the abundance of home.
The booth at the Fair continued to draw devotees year after year and she kept the booth open and helped charity for the next 40 years. Although the Fair ended in 1981, Rosy is recalled as a great example of a woman of her time who overcame the difficulties of real life and truly believed in a Rosy Tomorrow.