Rose ""Rosie"" Hiestand

Rose ""Rosie the Crossing Guard"" Hiestand, age 83 passed away Saturday, July 16, 2011 at her home. Rosie was born in Yonkers, New York on November 22, 1927, one of nine children of the late Dominic and Mary Miano. She was united in marriage to Gene Hiestand on February 15, 1946.
For 47 years, Rosie crossed students in front of Madison's Crestwood Elementary School. These devoted years gave Rosie great pride and enjoyment, especially helping kids of kids she had crossed years before; it was, in many ways her extended family. Some of her hobbies included, shopping, collecting and bird-watching. One of her favorite past-times was watching game shows on the game show network.
Rosie leaves behind, her loving husband of 65 years, Gene; daughter and son-in-law, Rose Mary and Alvin Belk of DeForest; two grandchildren, Tina (Mitchell) Johnson of Rio and Joshua Diehm IV of Portage; seven great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren, Amy Smith of Janesville and Heather Belk of Lake Mills; five step-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Stephanie Ferguson, FL, Teresa of N.Y., and Carmella Lucas of FL; sister-in-law, Mary Miano of FL, and Mary Lou Franklin of Madison; brother-in-law, Steve Somogyi of Arizona; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; infant great-grandson, Martin Diehm; sister Lucia; and brothers, John, Paul, Philip, and Joseph.
A memorial gathering, celebrating Rosie's life will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 22, 2011 at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison.
The family extends a special thank you to the Crestwood School Community for the outpouring of support, St. Mary's Hospital's doctors and staff, and also the staff and social workers of HospiceCare, Inc. for their wonderful care.