Rose Louise Podesta (Gwerder)

Rose Louise Podesta (Gwerder) passed very peacefully on January 21, 2025 in Sacramento, CA. The staff, doctors, and nurses at Sutter Hospital during her very brief stay were brightened by her positive outlook. 

 She was born March 29, 1941 in Woodland CA to Pauline (Fassbind) and Joseph Gwerder who emigrated from the towns of Arth and Bisistal in the canton of Schwyz, Switzerland. Rosie loved the two dairy/hay farms her parents established on Road 19 in Esparto and often relayed fond memories of country life to her family and friends. 

 At Esparto High School Rose enjoyed being Vice-President Girls’ Glee Club, President of the California Scholarship Federation, Junior Red Cross, Songleader cheering for the Spartans!, Girls Athletic Association & Girl’s State Delegate her Junior Year. With her beautiful songbird-voice Rosie continued singing her stunning performance of ‘O Holy Night’ in the choir at Holy Rosary Church where she was a member 70 years attending mass several times a week. She mentored many choir singers and was happy to provide them rides home.

 Active in many clubs, Rosie loved the PTA, Italian Catholic Federation, Altar Society, Parish Council, Room Mother, American Cancer Society, Young Ladies Institute (YLI), National Federation of the Blind, plus playing sofball, volleyball, camping, seamstress, gardening. A stay-at-home mom for years, she was a prestigious editorial typist for the Daily Democrat Newspaper for years. In many ways ahead of her time: Rosie frequented nutrition and health food stores before they were fashionable plus shuttled her kids to swimming and lifesaving lessons daily at the Woodland City Pool. She loved helping others improve and entertained kids and adult friends at her home with her welcoming personality and Swiss cooking.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, her former husband David Podesta and brothers Joe Gwerder and Paul Gwerder and sisters Mary Gwerder and Marguerite Steiner and nephew John Gwerder.

 She is survived by her daughters Joni Podesta, Trudi Crocker (Patrick), Jennifer Podesta and son Robert Podesta. Grandchildren include David Westfall (Haley), Danielle Crocker (Austin), Matthew Crocker, Courtney Blevins (Ryan), Christyn Crocker (Jason), Vanessa Pena, Giovani Borrego, California White (David), Millie Sandoval (Alex), Brayden Podesta, Sophia Podesta and Great-Grandchildren Jayden Westfall, Evelyn White, Stephen Sandoval, Cade Blevins, Rayea Blevins, Jax Blevins, Leila Crocker, Maddix Ceralde, Maverick Ceralde. Nieces include Rose Zezotarski, Beverly Steiner, Heidi Arnold, Louise Quinn, and nephew Joe Gwerder plus many more nieces, nephews and cousins.

We miss you and love you dearly.

A Memorial service/burial will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb 5 at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, 860 West St., Woodland CA. All are welcome.