Rosa di Marco

Name: Rosa di Marco
First Appeared: 29th January 1998
Last Appeared: 3rd August 2000
Played by: Louise Jameson

Rosa di Marco made her grand entrance in Walford in January 1998, turning up in force with her family for the funeral of her husband, Giuseppe. The di Marcos, an Italian family set to rival the Mitchells, moved to Walford the following month and set up Giuseppe’s, an Italian restaurant named in honor of her late husband. With her children Beppe, Gianni, Teresa, and Nicky, and her grandson Joe in tow, Rosa quickly became a fixture in the Square.

Rosa’s past had its secrets, one of which was her fling with George Palmer while Giuseppe was in prison. This revelation caused quite a stir, especially when George thought Gianni might be his son, potentially making his daughter Annie’s relationship with Gianni an incestuous affair. Thankfully, DNA tests confirmed Gianni was indeed Giuseppe’s son, putting everyone’s mind at ease. Despite Jeff Healy’s crush on her, Rosa kept her focus on her family and business, rejecting his advances.

Family drama reached a peak when Rosa’s daughter Nicky claimed she had been assaulted by her mathematics tutor. Although Nicky hadn’t told the full truth initially, the incident caused significant turmoil. When Nicky felt unsupported by her family, she disowned them, prompting Rosa to decide it was time for a fresh start. The di Marcos, except for Beppe, left Walford in August 2000 to move to Leicester.

Rosa’s departure marked the end of an era for the di Marcos in Walford. Sadly, she passed away from a heart attack two years later at the age of 50. Her son Beppe eventually joined the rest of the family in Leicester.