Mrs. Rose (Hess) Murray Johnson of Melrose died peacefully on December 3, 2008 at the Bear Hill Nursing Center in Stoneham, after a courageous battle with leukemia.Her strength and positive attitude were inspiration to all who knew her.
Rose was born October 1, 1909 in Somerville, the daughter of Frederick A. Hess and Anna (Campodonico) Hess.She was the wife of the late Richard Murray and the late Joseph H. Johnson, sister of the late Frederick J. and John J. Hess and grandmother of the late Matthew Ross.
Rose worked as a secretary for the Employers Group Insurance Company for many years.She was a member of the Melrose Community Associates and a parishioner at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Greenwood where she was a member of the Women's Guild. She was very active in the antiques business, having her own shop for several years, and was an avid coin collector.
She is survived by her son Richard Murray, Jr. and his companion Jan Johnson of Muncie, IN, her daughter Anne C. Smith and family friend of many years James C. Full, both of Marblehead, and her nephew John J. Hess, Jr., of Boca Raton, FL.She is also survived by her grandchildren Richard Full and his wife Donna of South Hamilton, James A. Full and his wife Elizabeth of Nashville, TN, Scott Ross and his wife April of Cumberland, ME, Stephanie Ross and her partner Pam Dutremble of Portland, ME, and her great-grandchildren Amanda Full and Kylie, Sean and Anne Ross.