Rose Irene Rivard

Our beautiful Rose completed her earthly assignment after 100 years of loving care and giving to so many others, including serving her country in World War II.

Rose received her nursing degree from Worcester City Hospital in Massachusetts and later joined the US Navy, earning a rank of Lieutenant (JG) in the United States Navy Nursing Corps during World War II.

After leaving the Navy, Rose held executive nursing positions in the Veterans Administration and various city, county, state and religious hospitals. She and her husband Leo (also a World War II Navy Veteran) moved to California and purchased their permanant home in Garden Grove in 1955, where she lived for 64 years until her recent passing. During that time, Rose served as Director of Nursing at Westminster Community Hospital from 1962 to 1973, and as joint Administrative Nursing Director of both Huntington Intercommunity and Westminster Hospitals; she also served as a consultant in the construction at Huntington Intercommunity Hospital. During her long career in Orange County, she was recognized for her proven leadership in the nursing and healthcare fields. After her official retirement, Rose continued to care for her many friends and fellow members of the Christian community well into her 90's.

On the occasion of her 100th birthday in May, Rose received certificates of commendation for her military service in World War II from both the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

While living in Garden Grove, Rose and Leo had a son David and a daughter Susan. Leo passed away at age 86 in 2007, but Rose and Leo were reunited by her passing on their 75th wedding anniversary. Sadly, Susan passed away at age 56 in 2014. Rose is survived by her son David and son-in-law Paul (Susan's husband).

A memorial service was held on August 16, 2019 at the Church of Our Fathers, Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, California. Full military honors were awarded in recognition of her service in the Navy during World War II, exactly 12 years to the day after Leo received the same service and honors in the same church. Rose will be interred with Leo at their joint resting place in Riverside National Cemetery.

Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day.