Catherine (Katie) Ann Rose passed away on Friday, October 26, 2012. Katie was born on June 1, 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska to Dr. Clifton Page Rose and Mary Patricia Rose. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of San Francisco in 1969 and received her Masters of Science and Nursing from the University of California at San Francisco. In more than 40 years in the nursing field, she dedicated her career to serving the needs of women and infant services, creating innovative programs, teaching and mentoring students and staff and always striving to provide the best possible care for families. Her role in the design of the Alta Bates NICU received national recognition and she was published in various medical journals. Katie was tireless in her work in the field of women's healthcare. Her vision was to create unique spaces where women could seek care on anything from breast exams to nutritional counseling and where patients and families could gain access to resources to help inform decisions about care. Her success is evident in the projects she spearheaded, including the Carol Ann Reed Breast Center, the Lafayette Women's Health Center, and the patient resource centers at both Alta Bates and Summit Medical Centers. She worked at Alta Bates Summit Hospital for 24 years and her legacy continues with an outstanding team of professionals with whom she adored working. 

Katie is survived by her husband, John Baker Girard, her two daughters, Carolyn Rose Randall and Elizabeth Rose Robirds. She is also survived by John's four children, Danielle Girard Kraus, Nicole Girard Kennedy, Tom Girard and Steve Girard. Together, Katie and John have eight grandchildren: Megan, Madelyn, Matthew, Emma, Clare, Jack, Luke and Will. She loved her family more than anything in the world and was a devoted and compassionate daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend who will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 2nd at Saint Perpetua Catholic Church in Lafayette. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the local chapter of the March of Dimes . - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?n=catherine-rose&pid=160748228#sthash.DuRdaTKK.dpuf