Rose Mary Spada Garre

Rose Spada, born in Metzger, OR, on November 16, 1920, was the fourth of six children born to Cosmo and Angiolina Spada, died on April 5, 2015. As an infant, she moved with her family to the Parkrose area. She was a graduate of Grant High School and attended Marylhurst College before her marriage.

Rose met Bert Garre on a blind date. They married on February 14, 1943. They farmed in the Parkrose area and raised three children. Bert died on March 29, 2001.

She developed an excellent work ethic, first as a child farming with her family and later side by side with her husband while raising their children. Rose was a lifelong member of St. Rita Catholic Church. She was very involved in every aspect of the annual spaghetti and meatball dinner, working all of the 79 dinners. Because the "old" Italian ladies were in charge of the bread at the dinner, her favorite quote was, "Cutting bread is the last stop before the cemetery." Marycrest High School, Multnomah County Farm Bureau, Club Paesano and Gateway Elks were some of the other organizations with whom she shared her time and talents. Her generosity extended to sharing her expertise of sewing, knitting, crocheting, cooking and recipes with family and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, sister Jennie Casale, brothers Nick, Frank and Richard Spada.

She is survived by her children, Rosann Pitton (Jim), Al (Marie), Chris Kugel (Glenn), grandchildren Marie Neilan (Jim), Brian Kugel (Samudra), Alison Garre, Jeff Kugel (Corinne) and Julie Blank (Jared); great-grandchildren Seth, Lucas and Clayton Kugel, her brother Art (Mary) Spada, sister-in-law Peg Spada and beloved nieces and nephews, greats and great greats in the Spada, Casale and Garre families. Mass of Christian Burial is at St. Rita on Tuesday, April 14, at 11 am. Interment at Rose City Cemetery. Arrangements by Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Rita Catholic Church.