Rose Cecava

Rose Annette Cecava, age 103, of Wallace, passed away peacefully at Kearney Regional Hospital and went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 17, 2026.

Rose was born on August 2, 1922, at the family farmstead South of Wallace to John and Mary Vlasin. Rose attended Green Valley Country School until she was nine years old. The family moved to Crete, Nebraska, in 1932. She attended St James Catholic School through the tenth grade, graduating from Crete High School in 1940. She attended Doane College, obtaining a teaching certificate. She taught country school, all grades, for five years in Lancaster County near Hallam, Nebraska.

On November 16, 1946, Rose married Victor Cecava at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crete, Nebraska. They moved to Cheney, Kansas, and in 1951, they moved back to the family farmstead south of Wallace. They were married for 56 years, and from this union, five children were born.

Rose was a hard worker and enjoyed the outdoors. She was an avid vegetable and flower gardener. Rose was an exceptional cook and known for her loving, kind spirit and generous hospitality as she prepared her favorite Czech dishes of Kolache's, duck, and dumplings. She was honored as Cook of the Month by the North Platte Telegraph for her Czech dishes.

Rose was a devoted member of St Mary Catholic Church. She enjoyed membership and held offices in the Sunshine Extension Club, St. Mary's Altar Society, Grand Deanery, and American Legion Auxiliary, achieving a 58-year membership. Rose always cared for others, offering comfort, compassion, and support. She loved to socialize and volunteered at events to serve and support her community. She was honored as Grand Marshall in the Wallace Fall Festival. Rose enjoyed polka dances, traveling the country with family, and playing pinochle and bridge. She loved visiting with family and friends and writing letters. Rose enjoyed entertaining others by writing and composing poems and readings for special occasions.

Rose was preceded in death by her husband, Victor, in 2002, and her daughter, Marian K. Turenne, in 2021.

Rose is survived by her children, Lorie (Jim) Artz, Eugene (Kathy) Cecava, Lois Cecava, and Karla (Mike) Lee; her son-in-law, Art Turenne; her brother, Raymond Vlasin; 19 grandchildren; and 39 great-grandchildren, along with many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. Central Time at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wallace, with a Rosary recited at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. C.T. Friday, June 26, 2026, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Wallace, with Father Bernard Lorenz and Father Thomas Bush as Celebrants. Burial will follow at Morning View Cemetery in Wallace.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Rose's memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com, where the Mass will be streamed live.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant is in charge of arrangements.