Rose Ferrari Demostene Benson

Rose Ferrari Demostene Benson passed away peacefully at her home in Healdsburg on Oct. 25, 2010. At the age of 98, Rose was a lifelong resident of Healdsburg and a pioneer in Sonoma County's wine industry and Healdsburg's volunteer community. She is preceded in death by her parents, Abele and Mansuetta Ferrari, and her husbands, Nils Benson and Leo Demostene. Survived by children: David (Donna) Demostene, Edward Demostene, Peachie (Norman) Dunlavy and Cindy (Greg) Martin; grandchildren Leisa Demostene, Kara Demostene, Jennifer (Richard) Castle and Erica (Mark) Fulbright; great-grandchildren Haden Shoup, Alexandra Castle and James Fulbright; sisters Rena Steele, Inez Ferrari and Vera Plum and beloved caregiver, Olga Fishman. Born to Italian immigrants who came to the Healdsburg area in 1904, Rose grew up on their Westside Rd. grape ranch. After graduating from Healdsburg High School, she attended U.C. Berkeley and in 1934 she received a BA in Foreign Languages and her teaching credential. She then returned to Healdsburg where she taught all eight grades in a one room Westside Rd. schoolhouse. In 1936 she married Leo Demostene, and shortly after they moved to Alexander Valley where they helped her parents establish Soda Rock Winery and farm eighty acres of grapes. In 1962 they moved to Sausal Ranch and when Leo passed away in 1973, Rose and her four children fulfilled his dream and established Sausal Winery. Rose married Nils Benson in 1980. After he passed away in 2000, she moved from the ranch to town to be closer to her many friends. During her lifetime, Rose successfully juggled helping Leo with the ranch, raising four children and volunteering for numerous service clubs and organizations. She managed to squeeze more hours out of everyday than most people could imagine. Besides being a 4-H leader, she was a founding member of the Healdsburg Garden Club, the Healdsburg Historical Society and the Healdsburg Soroptomist Club where she served as President and became a life-time member. Her culinary skills were widely known and utilized for many fund raising and charitable events. In 2005, the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society honored her with the Annual History Lives - Pioneer Award. No matter how busy she was, there was always time for her beloved garden. Rose found a peace there that fed her soul and graced her life. She will always be remembered for her kindness and giving nature, her strength of character and honesty, and her passion for gardening, dancing and life. At her request there will be no public service. Rose would encourage all of her friends and family to take a few moments in their gardens to say goodbye and send her on her way. Donations in her memory can be made to Memorial Hospice, 821 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401 or to your favorite charity. Arrangements by: FRED YOUNG F.H. CLOVERDALE, 707-894-2540