Rosa Gabriel, 101 years old, of Rochester, NY, formerly of Greenwood, NY, passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Hurlbut Nursing Home in Rochester, NY. She was born on May 1st, 1925, in Sandy Huff, WV, a daughter of the late Harrison and Louise (Vance) Steele. On March 23, 1948, she married Henry Gabriel of Iaeger, West Virginia, who passed in 2006.

Rosa owned and operated Peoples Drug Store with her husband, Henry, for many years in Iaeger. Afterwards, the family resided in Brooklyn, NY for 3 years and then moved to Greenwood, NY in 1953 and started the Bella Rose Motel before moving to Wellsville, NY in 1959 where they owned and operated the Wellsville Motel for more than twenty years, retiring in August 1979.

Rosa was a parishioner of the Methodist church in Wellsville, NY for many years. Her and her husband are long time sponsors of the Henry and Rosa Gabriel Scholarships for local schools including Wellsville Central High, Greenwood/Canisteo High School, and Alfred State College.

She is predeceased by her husband, Henry Gabriel; one granddaughter, Dionne Fogarty; six brothers and sisters-in-law: Acy (Nicatie), David (Virginia), Anderson (Hattie), Estil (Mabel), Bittle (Mildred), and Boyd (Lillian) Steele; and two sisters, Ethel (William) Wimmer and Myrtle (Harrison) Shirley.

Surviving are five children, Robert Gabriel of Shortsville, NY, Theresa (Makis) Messoloras of Las Vegas, NV, Diana Fogarty of Lauderhill, FL, Darrell Gabriel of Greenwood, NY, and Susan (Mark) Lochner of Ontario, NY; eight grandchildren, Jason (Tracie) Gabriel, Irene (Ola) Gjeilo, Demetra (Erik) Hanson, Nicholas (Kayla) Messoloras, Danielle (Jason) Fleet, Danise Fogarty, Rachelle (Rob) Lewis, Melissa (Tim) Murphy; eleven great grandchildren: Sara and Asa Gabriel, Sofia and Alex Messoloras, Julian Hanson, Michael and Alora Dalo, Liam and Wyatt Murphy, Jackson and Madison Lewis; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Monday, July 27th from 9 – 11am at Murphy Funeral & Cremation Chapel, 1961 Ridge Road, Ontario, NY 14519. A memorial service will immediately follow calling hours at 11:00am.

A private burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Greenwood, NY will be held at a later date.

To leave the family an online condolence or memory, please visit Rosa’s guestbook at www.murphyfuneralservices.com.