- Date Of Birth: April 21, 1931
- Date Of Death: September 13, 2021
- State: Iowa
Rose Marie Biondi, 90, of Madrid, Iowa passed away peacefully at Bickford of Ames on September 13, 2021 after a feisty and full, blessed life.
Rose Marie Galetich was born April 21, 1931 in High bridge, a coal mining camp south of Madrid. Her life in Madrid was filled with a tapestry of people. Rosie was brought up in a proud Croatian family and was immersed in an ethnic-rich community. Madrid was filled with Italians, Poles and Swedes to name a few. She called them neighbors, classmates and friends. Rose was fond of reminiscing and often told stories of her formative years.
Rosie was adored by her parents, John & Catherina, and siblings, John, Ann, Anthony, Mary, Emil (Buck), William, Nicholous, Steven and Louis. Rose married Floyd Biondi on April 22,1961 in Madrid where they made their first home in Boxtown.
Rose was a homemaker, loving mother, grandmother and aunt to many nieces and nephews. Rose was a devout Catholic; her faith was central to her life. She had many hardships throughout her life, but embodied her faith on a daily basis. She was strong, stubborn and resilient.
Rose was a wonderful neighbor, friend to all and role model to many. She quietly and humbly supported people that were down on their luck. She was employed at Brown Cleaners before she married and began working at the Madrid Home after her youngest entered elementary school.
She retired after many years of loyal, hard-working, dependable service, moving to Ames to be closer to her family. She enjoyed working in her flower garden, sewing, shopping and listening to music, especially Big Band and Polka. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren, Gabrielle and Colby, and spoiled both of them. She adored them and cherished every moment they spent with her. They truly got the best of her. The children and many of their friends would often drop by for lunch when they were in high school. She enjoyed the commotion and looked forward to their daily visits. She loved cooking and baking; many people requested her homemade povitica and tortellinis. You were lucky if you ever tasted either.
Rose was a lifelong member of the St. Malachy’s Catholic Church, where she received all of her holy sacraments. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings and some very special nieces and nephews.
Rose is survived by her children, Joe (Grace) Biondi; Grace’s daughter Diana Douglas-Schirmer (Shane & their children Shawn-David and Sage), Tina (Mark) Hansen, her two beloved grandchildren, Gabrielle and Colby , and many nieces and nephews.
