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PLAINVILLE - Hilda-Marie Rose is a little like you and me, a little like everyone.

She was "Ginger" the waitress, who served your meals all those years, or the Meals-on-Wheels volunteer who delivered them when you couldn't drive anymore.

She cared for the mentally challenged by the dozen in group homes here and there; she's had six children, 20 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and two major heart attacks.

Rose, 68, lives in Plainville's Killarney Estates, in a modest mobile home with her microwave specialties, her ample cat, her computer and her memories of serving and loving people.

In November 2002, her husband, Joe Rose, died. "We were supposed to go to Vegas to buy a house," she said. "I got knocked back." For a common person, she is decidedly uncommon.

SUN CHRONICLE: You worked for 15 years as a waitress at Dimitri's Red Snapper in Foxboro, the Charles River Country Club and Borachi's Villa. What's your best waitress story?

HILDA-MARIE ROSE: How I screwed up the Foxboro Fire Department (laughs).

A man and his wife came in to the restaurant. They seated them. They sat there a while. I was changing ash trays, pouring water....

The man said, "Hey, lady, how do you get away with these open candles on the tables?" I looked at him and said, "Oh, they probably pay off the fire department."

He laughed, had his meal and then I see him go to the owner and I'm dying a thousand deaths. I thought he was complaining.

As it was, he was complimenting me on my service, but I didn't know that. On the way out the door, he said, 'Just thought I'd let you know, I'm the chief of the Foxboro Fire Department. The name's Sheehan.' Talk about wishing the ground would open and swallow me up! (Laughs)

SUN CHRONICLE: Tell me about working with the - who were once called the retarded - the mentally challenged. Was that difficult, endearing, heart breaking?

ROSE: I was in an Alzheimer's unit for a while. You know, make them comfortable. I put in a transfer to go to a group home. I went to Norfolk, Wrentham. I had one man who could recite every single TV commercial that goes back to 1950. You'd start, and he'd finish every sentence. I had another young lady I loved. She thought she was a mommy. She'd take such great care of her 'baby.' She said, 'Oh, baby, baby...."

SUN CHRONICLE: Was it a doll for a baby? ROSE: Yes, it was a doll.

SUN CHRONICLE: So, they tugged at your heart.

ROSE: Oh, so much. I loved them. I didn't want to quit. By my feet went out on me. I have diabetes. So, on my 65th birthday, I retired.

SUN CHRONICLE: Do you still see any of the people you once cared for?

ROSE: In Norfolk, I had three girls there, and I became involved with one of them. She became MY doll. I loved her. I still go to see her. I took her to a Christmas party, this past Christmas. I go get her, and take her out. I'd do laundry for them. Make Jello on Fridays. I was personally involved.

SUN CHRONICLE: You are a rabid football fan. You've won the Sun Chronicle Beat Fearless competition more than once, picking the winners of games each week.

ROSE: I love football. I've never been to a game, though. I see it on TV. I loved beating Mark Farinella in that contest. I got 14 (games) out of 14. I loved it. There was so much satisfaction.

I was a Minnesota Vikings fan. Oh, I love the Pats now, but he (Mark) had to send out to Minnesota to get those Vikings mugs and cups and shirts for me. And he did it. That was great.

SUN CHRONICLE: With your health problems, you still deliver food for Meals on Wheels on Mondays through the Plainville Council on Aging.

ROSE: I love Meals on Wheels because I was on Meals on Wheels for a year, when I had my massive heart attack and was unable to get to the store. It's satisfying. Sometimes, you are the only person they'll talk to all day, the only visitor they'll have.

SUN CHRONICLE: Any other aspects of your life we should know about?

ROSE: I'm a Bingo freak. Monday nights, I go to the Knights of Columbus Hall, Franklin; Wednesday night, the Elks Club in Franklin; Sunday night, the same place in Bellingham. My friend Frieda and I hit the old Bingo circuit.

It's a wonderful night out. I see all my friends. I socialize. If I win, I'm happy. If I lose, I just go home, none the worse for wear.

SUN CHRONICLE: So, what then in your life, is your favorite thing?

ROSE: My family, my grandchildren. I love Sue Hinski and the people at the Senior Center in Plainville. Oh, and I do love the Sun Chronicle. It's my friend in the morning. All I have is the paper to talk to. I read it and enjoy it with my coffee.

SUN CHRONICLE: It's nice to talk to someone who is, like all of us in some way, a little offbeat.

ROSE: Oh, I'm nuts! Ask anyone! I just love people and I love my life.

JAMES A. MEROLLA can be reached at 508-236-0431 or at jmerolla@thesunchronicle.com.