Rose Urbach

Rose Abate Urbach

Hibbing ‘Village’ Native is California Legend for 72 Years

Rose Abate Urbach – Nurture children, Silence airplanes, Alter freeway routes, Impact governments, Support citizens, Serve the community, an Avid bowler; with a welcoming smile, generous heart, deep concern for all, and spontaneous wit: these are but a few of her life-long commitments and traits.

Rose was born to the late Luigi and Lucia (Cerra) Abate in Cerrisi, Italy on January 21, 1917.  She passed away peacefully at her home in San Bruno, CA on March 27, 2014.  She was 97.  Rose survived her husband, the late Gunther Urbach who died in 2000.

At 4yrs old, from humble beginnings traveling in steerage with her mother and 3 siblings, Rose immigrated to the USA in 1921; moving from warm southern Italy to freezing Aurora, MN, later to Kitzville, then eventually to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Hibbing, MN, where she grew up.  In 1941 at 24yrs, Rose took a two-week vacation from her Montgomery Ward’s position to travel to Pittsburgh, California.  There she met ‘Gus’ whom she later married.  She never again lived in Hibbing.  But she returned often to visit family and friends, and attended nearly every class of 1935 Hibbing High School reunion.  She took a job with Ward’s in Pittsburgh, later moved to San Francisco with her husband, and then bought a home in San Bruno, CA in 1942.

Rose set an example of high standards for her children and was always there for them.  She was a regular classroom mom, faithfully drove teachers to appointments, led her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, and worked the local precinct elections for forty years.  Rose taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine to second and third grade students at St. Bruno’s Catholic Church for several decades.  Rose was instrumental in this country’s first successful campaign to reduce the noise of departing airplanes, impacting international airports throughout the world.  Her efforts helped form the San Francisco International Airport Community Roundtable in 1981 to address community concerns.  When freeway I-380 was built adjacent to her neighborhood, she was instrumental in the location of Forest Lane Park and the placement of critical traffic lights nearby, as well as rerouting a State plan which would have channeled trucks and more cars into her residential neighborhood.  For over thirty years Rose was a regular fixture at San Bruno City Council meetings.  Though very timid in her childhood years, she never hesitated to speak out boldly on behalf of the community, often displaying her spontaneous wit.  The list goes on and on.

Rose always considered Hibbing her ‘home.’  She sparkled with joy at the mere mention of its name, its Iron Range heritage, or its influential persons, such as life-long friend, Jeno Paulucci.  She was proud of Hibbing High School and her graduation from it, the high quality of its programs, and the wonder of its theater; visiting there many times.

Rose is survived by her brother Orlando Abate of Hibbing; her daughter, Patricia BeBeau, sons Roy J.G. Urbach and Rey E. Urbach, and 10 grandchildren, all in California.  She is also survived by family on her mother’s side (Cherro) in Aurora, MN.  She is the sister of the late James V. Abate, Biondina Baratto and Carmela Pascuzzi, all of Hibbing.

It was Rose’s wish to be buried in Hibbing.  Family and friends are invited to attend the Funeral service on Thursday, May 22, 2014 at 11 AM at DOUGHERTY FUNERAL HOME, 2615 1st Ave, Hibbing, with interment following at Hibbing Park Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution in memory of Rose Abate Urbach to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN   38105. (800) 805-5856    http://www.stjude.org
To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.doughertyofhibbing.com.

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