Rose Ferentino Grimes honored as GPCC Distinguished Women of the Year

PITTSTON — The Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network has been honoring women over the last 10 years with the Distinguished Woman Award at the annual St. Patrick’s Dinner celebration.

The award has been traditionally been given to a woman who has left a lasting impact on the Greater Pittston Community.

“This year is the 10th anniversary of this award and I was looking for someone who brought a bigger challenge to the table or a bigger hurdle, and Rose Ferentino Grimes is the epitome of what we talk about for our Distinguished Woman,” Michelle Mikitish, Chamber president said. “We talk about how they go about their day and they build a success because of something that triggered them to be successful.”

This year’s choice was not a difficult one in choosing Rose Ferentino Grimes, a woman who turned a tragic and sad situation being a great success story; a story of survival, perseverance, and great success.

Ferentino Grimes, the daughter of the late Anthony and Ida Bartoli, was happy being a mom to four sons and wife to her first husband Gary Ferentino of 15-years when life drastically changed in 1985 when Gary passed away.

With four children to take care of, she had to step it up in order for her family to survive; she ended up in the workforce.

After securing a job at Prudential Insurance & Investment Company in 1986 and even though she didn’t know it at first she didn’t know it, but she would end up being a female leader in a male dominated industry.

She had to find a way to balance motherhood to sons and her place in the workforce.

After getting her career off the ground and working her way up at Prudential, she met and fell in love with Charles Grimes in 1989. Once married, she could have pulled back with work, but she stayed on with Prudential for a total of 36 years.

During her work career, she achieved numerous milestones for her excellence and innovation.

She became a keynote speaker and published a motivational video “images” used throughout the industry.

Ferentino Grimes went on to qualify for 17 business conferences and achieved five presidential citations with Prudential.

“I was one of two women in the country that was a managing director, I was the only sales manager in my district that was a female, and I was the only female in my office,” Ferentino Grimes admitted. “It all has to do with your own motivation. I had four children I had to support and I did not have a college education. My choice was to stay home, collect Social Security, and live in poverty or follow the dreams their father and I had for our kids.”

In addition to raising four successful sons, Maurice, Jude (Britini), Jason (Tiffany), and Jarrett (Nicole), Rose has 15 grandchildren.

In retirement over the years, the Grimes have enjoyed splitting their time living in Pittston as well as Naples, Florida.

Sadly, on January 20, 2025 Rose, once again, found herself a widow when Charles passed away following a brief illness.

With the loss of two husbands, Ferentino Grimes said she has been able to carry cherished memories forward and is grateful for love and resilience.

Over the years, she has served at many non-profits as well as being a board member of the National Association of Insurance Advisors, Salvation Army board member, Toys for Tots volunteer, Gabriel House and The Jacqueline of the Knight of Columbus, Pittston and a charter member of the Chamber’s Women’s Network.

She is a charter member of the Chamber’s Women’s Network, to whom is honoring her on St. Patrick’s Day.

Ferentino Grimes is a member of Fox Hill Country Club and Cypress Woods Country Club Naples, Florida.