“….. she would light up the room as soon as she arrived. She was like breathe to a newborn baby,
while her smile was like fire, that could melt the night,
such a beautiful, beautiful lady….”
~SMR
Rosalind Bernice (Rose) Rice born to Carl and Catherine Stoffel, a nurse and a homemaker, in Anaheim CA on October 15 1933 left us peacefully in the comfort of her home on January 14, 2023. She was immersed in her Catholic Community that would become her lifelong support from an early age. She graduated Marywood Catholic High School 1951, and Fullerton College 1955, and accepted a nursing position at Orange County Hospital before becoming a full-time mother.
Rose was blessed with a large and loving family. She married John Edward (Ed) Rice October 17 1956 and raised six (6) children with patience, some discipline, and lots of courage. She mastered cursing in her native German.
Rose loved to play the piano, but her passion was the beach. She was generous with her younger siblings, treating them to trips to Catalina Island during the summer. She was thrilled to discover her soon to be husband enjoyed the ocean and was a frequent traveler to Catalina as well. Together they dreamed of owning a small summer house on the island, but opted for Mexico instead, giving their six children a cultural experience away from "Orange County" life. To this day we will never know if she truly did not know how to swim. She is memorialized by her ”don’t go too far!” command as all six children would dash out the door after breakfast for a day in the waves.
Rose is preceded in death by her husband, John Edward Rice, the love of her life for almost 50 years. She is survived by her children; Michael Edward Rice, Susan Marie Rice, Rosemary Ellen Rice-Svimonoff, Timothy Joseph Rice, James Patrick Rice and John Carl Rice, as well as seven grandchildren; Paige L. Rice-Wills, Helena Rice-Gonzalez, Brett M. Farthing, Alex G. Farthing, Austin J. Rice, Tia Enevoldsen, Marissa and Madison Rice, and a great grandchild; Uwa Rosalind Wills. Her siblings preceded in death are Anna Marie Stoffel-Wright, Jean Stoffel-Selves, Mary Stoffel-Joos, Charles Stoffel and two surviving siblings; Richard Stoffel and Joan Stoffel-Bennet.
Rose was kind, soft spoken, handled life's misfortunes with grace and was never without her gorgeous smile. She will be forever remembered, and dearly missed.
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