Mary DeRosa, 87, founder of DeRosa Realty of Hallandale Beach, recently passed away at her residence this past Mon. Mar 9, 2015.

Mary founded DeRosa Realty in 1982. She was instrumental in the sale of many of South Florida’s most recognizable buildings, including the Eden Roc, the Ivanhoe Hotel, Hollywood Towers, and many developments. She used her influence to maintain the neighborhood feel in the Hollywood Lakes and Hallandale areas.

Mary was known for her sympathetic approach to business. She was a community activist who was loved by all. As a proud member of the Hallandale Chamber of Commerce, Mary hosted that Chamber’s business card exchange every December for over 20-years. The entire community looked forward to the event as it soon became an extravaganza.

Mary was always raising money for charities, The Hepburn Center, Broward Outreach Center & many others. She loved constructively giving back. She believed that if you do business in a neighborhood, you have a responsibility to give back. She instilled within her family the important ideals of generosity and respect for your community. Mary even had a drawer full of toys, should a client walk into the office with their kids. She absolutely adored seeing children smile.

The most important thing to Mary was her family. She was happiest when all of her children and grandchildren were under the same roof. She was a giver by nature, and it was her instinct to want others to be happy. In her later years, she was happy and peaceful, and lived with her daughter Cathi and grandson Mike. She is survived by her two children, Cathi and Tony DeRosa, two sisters, and three grandchildren.

Visitation will take place on Saturday, March 14, from 10-12 p.m. with a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. at Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, Hollywood Boulevard Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate in Mary’s memory to Susan B. Anthony Recovery Center www.sbarecovery.org &/or the Shake a Leg Miami Organization at www.shakealegmiami.org