Rose Knezevich Eid

Longtime Napa resident Rose Knezevich Eid passed away on May 12, 2025 at the age of 98. She was born in Grass Valley, California on August 3, 1926 to Bozo and Julia Knezevich. Rose and her large family left Grass Valley when she was very young and moved to Napa. Rose attended and graduated from Napa High School in 1944. Rose began her work career at an early age while attending Lincoln elementary school and picking prunes during the summer. After graduating from high school, Rose took a job a Basalt Rock Company. She later attended Miss Lucy's Secretarial School and upon graduation started working for the County of Napa. Rose married Kurt Eid on July 1, 1951 and they were together for 66 years before Kurt passed away in February 2018. She became an avid homemaker after the birth of her 1st son and continued to maintain a wonderful home until a few months before her passing. Rose had a long and fulfilling life and was healthy until shortly before her passing. She was a loving wife and mother who worked hard to provide for her family. Rose loved to travel and started at an early age. After graduating from Napa High School in 1944, she flew to Los Angeles with her best friend Faye. They had a great time but spent all of their money and returned to Napa via a Greyhound bus. The following year she celebrated the end of World War II by flying solo to Hawaii and visiting her brother Mitchell. Rose was an avid supporter of her children's sports interests and school interests and was always ready to cook and bake to support them. Ranging from her famous chili bean recipe to the cupcakes for the boys’ baseball teams and her famous orange bread. Let's not forget her husband Kurt's favorite M&M cookies! Friends of her sons were always welcome to dinner at the family table including Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Rose and her husband Kurt enjoyed 25 years of square dancing and then started to ballroom dance. They traveled extensively with Napa College Trips including a memorable trip to Europe, visiting long lost relatives in Germany and France along with Kurt returning to the home he lived in as a child. They went on numerous cruises with their close friends Jean and Leroy Macler and came home with wonderful memories and pictures. Rose volunteered at every level with her children - Fly League baseball and Cub Scouts and was always a staunch supporter of the PTA and the Irene Snow Elementary School carnivals. She enjoyed her role as President of the Rho Sigma Chi women's sorority and her decades long membership. Her greatest joy as a volunteer occurred when she was one of the first to work at Copia after it opened in November, 2001. In her later years she enjoyed being a member of the Napa Women's Club. She loved sports and was a dedicated Warriors, 49ers and Giants fan. She loved kibitzing on a daily basis with her dear friend and fellow Warriors and Giants fan Lucy. After retirement she became the champion for all neighbors. She loved to congratulate the neighbor kids when they made the honor roll, became involved in a sport, or simply came to say hello. One way Rose stayed current on the neighbor kids’ accomplishments was by reading the Napa Register. Rose often had motherly advice - frequently from her own mother! She encouraged her adult friends to fully live their life - travel, connect with loved ones and never sweat the small stuff. She was a trusted confidant of her neighbors and provided sage advice when they were approaching retirement age. She was able to maintain her fitness as was her late husband Kurt by their daily walks and eating healthy. Rose remaining involved with current events by reading both the Napa Register and the San Francisco Chronicle. She loved reading biographies and had just finished a three volume set on Eleanor Roosevelt. Rose was preceded in death by her parents Bozo and Julia, her brothers Mitchell, George, Pete, Chris, Robert and John, her sisters Melena and Mary along with her niece Patricia (Dillon). She is survived by her older son Dennis, daughter-in-law Michelle, younger son Craig, along with nephews Erik and Paul and nieces Sandi and Paula. Special thanks to all the neighbors who helped Rose, especially Jeanne, Juan, Claire, Mike, Chris, Rob, Dave and Lucy. Deepest appreciation for the care and love provided by the caregiver team of Jill, Chelle, Ivonne, Marveth and Andrea! In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Share the Care, Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation or a charity of your choice. A private family service was held under the direction of Treadway & Wigger. A Celebration of Life will be held this summer for both Rose and Kurt. Contact Dennis at 510-590-2700. Thanks for the memories, Mom!

Tributes

Rose Knezevich Eid

August 3, 1926 - May 12, 2025