Eileen M. Rose

Eileen “Honey” M (Castegnaro) Rose, 64 of Rockford, IL, passed away Monday, September 14, 2020 while surrounded by her family and best friend. She was born in Rockford, IL on July 31, 1956 to Gino and Suzanne (Hughes) Castegnaro. Eileen attended St. Bernadette and was a proud alumni of Boylan Catholic High School.
Rose owned and operated a Daycare, where her kids gave her the nickname “Honey”. Here, Eileen got to exhibit her true gift of taking care of others. Once all her children grew up, Honey turned her child daycare into a doggy daycare. Eileen would marry her “Jimmy Boy” Jim Rose in 2006. She was a long time active member, volunteer, and Bocce player at the Venetian Club. Eileen, also known as Nona, was a kind and outgoing person who loved to spend time with her family and family friends. She had a true passion for food. If she wasn’t trying a new restaurant, she was making sugo and pasta in what came to be known as “Nona’s Kitchen”. She looked forward to cheering on the Bears, Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Hononegah Indians football team, where her grandson played, and was ecstatic to see the Cubs win the World Series in 2016. She also could frequently be found watching TV game shows, HGTV, or singing and dancing competitions, in which she would take extensive notes of each contestant.
She is survived by her children, David (Jessie) Ferrell and Brandi Ferrell; her “angel-face” grandchildren, Dominic and Lorenzo Ferrell; sister, Kathleen Castegnaro-Welter; brother, Mark Castegnaro; her aunt Val; and cousins including Randy, Lynn, and David Castegnaro; very close friend Debbie; and her “other” kids Spencer and Matthew Anderson and Stacey Henderson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Rose, in 2017; parents; brother-in-law, Lenny Welter and beloved dog, Gia. Special thanks to the staff at P.A. Peterson (2nd floor) and Northern Illinois Hospice.
A Celebration of Life for Eileen will be held at a later date. Those in attendance for any of the service will be required to wear masks and social distance. Flowers and contributions are welcome and can be sent to the family. Share on-line condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.