Rosa Maria Faulkner

Rosa Maria Faulkner passed peacefully at home into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 15, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Rosa Maria was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, to the late Fred DeRobertis and Edna Creeley DeRobertis. Following graduation from East High School in Knoxville, TN, Rosa Maria continued her education at the University of Tennessee, where she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Music Education in 1959. She was University of Tennessee Homecoming Queen in 1958. In 1959, Rosa Maria was awarded The Torchbearer, the University of Tennessee’s highest award for leadership, scholarship, and service. After graduating, she began her career as an elementary school music teacher. She married the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Faulkner, in June 1960. In 1962 the family moved to Charlotte, NC, and two years later they moved to Wilmington, DE, where they have remained to the present day. Rosa Maria loved spending time with her family, especially during their vacations to Outer Banks, NC, Wild Dunes in Charleston, SC, and Gatlinburg, TN. “Hostess with the Mostest” was an accurate title as she was always known to find any reason to gather her friends and family together, whether it was Black Friday Brunch, Tennessee football games, prayer brunch, or birthday dinners. You name it, and there was a reason to gather and eat! Her fun, outgoing personality paved the way to making friends everywhere she went, from Hockessin Athletic Club, to her favorite restaurants like Cracker Barrel. Rosa Maria treasured her friends, both old and new. Rosa Maria used her vocal talents to sing as a soprano soloist at churches she attended over the years and performed various roles in Opera Delaware productions. She served as choral director at Wilmington Christian School for 21 years and a private voice teacher for over 40 years. She had a passion for developing young voices and was so proud of her students when they made All State Chorus or were awarded leading roles in their musicals. As a trained personality consultant, Rosa Maria spoke over the years for church groups as well as educational, business, civic, medical, and professional groups, helping participants better understand how they are “wired” and how to better interact with others. Just recently in 2020, she developed a small business called Tru (The Real U) Seminars. Her greatest passion was her love for her Savior, Jesus Christ. Rosa Maria had always been an active churchgoer, but on Oct 6, 1976, she became a born again believer when she invited Jesus Christ into her heart and life. Shortly thereafter, she started sharing her story of faith, “Tiaras, Trophies and Tantrums,” to Stonecroft Ministries Christian Women’s Clubs across 19 states. Rosa Maria was predeceased by her parents; sister, Giulia DeRobertis Neubert; brother-in-law, Howard Neubert’ and beloved husband of 58 years, A. Robert Faulkner, Jr. in 2019. She is survived by three loving children: A. Robert Faulkner, III (Sheri), Karen Faulkner Knoettner (Jeff), and Kathryn Faulkner O’Bryan (John); three cherished grandchildren: Ian O’Bryan, Kristin O’Bryan, and Stephen O’Bryan; and two beloved nephews, Gregg Neubert and Kurt Neubert. Family and friends are invited to visit at Ogletown Baptist Church, 316 Red Mill Road, Newark, DE 19713 on Saturday, March 25, 2023, between 9:30 and 11 am. A service to celebrate Rosa Maria’s life will begin at 11 am, with a luncheon following. Rosa Maria’s wish to be buried in her hometown of Knoxville, TN at the family plot will be honored. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rosa Maria’s memory may be made to Stonecroft Ministries at www.stonecroft.org or Stonecroft PO Box 8900 Kansas City, MO 64114.

Rosa Maria Faulkner

January 4, 1937 - March 15, 2023

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