Monterey, CA

It is with tremendous sorrow that we mourn the passing of Rosine Louise Costanza Culcasi. Born in Pittsburg, CA, to Horace and Mary Costanza, she died peacefully at home at the age of 85.

To put all her accomplishments into words would be an impossible task, but Rosine had aknack for making the unimaginable look effortless, so we will do our best to honor her legacy.

Though she was born and raised in Pittsburg, Rosine planted her roots here on the Central Coast when she and her family moved to Monterey in 1961, two years after tying the knot at Carmel Mission Basilica. She was driven in life by a love of cooking and serving her community. From wowing family members at a young age to mesmerizing doctors with her culinary delights during her stint as a chef/baker at Eskaton Hospital, it was clear Rosine had the talent to support her ambitions. All this culminated in the opening of Rosine’s Restaurant at the Del Monte Shopping Center in 1980. Who better to name the family business after than her? With its homemade recipes and focus on quality, the Italian-influenced American cuisine at Rosine’s was an instant hit with the locals. It was afamily affair from the start, with husband and children all playing vital roles, but Rosine was the beating heart; her recipes, from beef minestrone to carrot cake, drew people to the door. In 1986, Rosine’s moved to a new location on Alvarado Street when there was little to draw people there. That changed overnight; the family’s instant success brought a wave of new businesses to the area, reinvigorating downtown. Rosine’s — both her and the business’s —legacy as the anchor of Alvarado Street was immortalized by countless awards and accolades received over the years. And you can still catch Rosine sharing the screen with Guy Fieri on Food Network reruns of‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.’ Despite officially retiring in 1991, Rosine spent the next two-plus decades rising at 3am every Tuesday and Friday to bake her much-beloved meatloaf and fruit pies. Her spirit and culinary passion inspired staff to bring their A-game every day. Though she shared her recipes with her children, who went on to publish them in the restaurant's official cookbook, "Rosine's Cuisine," no one could replicate her touch in the kitchen.

If not baking at Rosine’s, you could often find her at home, preparing a mouthwatering dinner for her family. The first stop in the Rosine home was always the pantry, where her children and grandchildren knew you could find a snack or two.

Rosine was everything you could ask for in a mother and grandmother. The Culcasi matriarch radiated warmth and love whenever she stepped into a room. Her kindness made everyone feel like family, and she knew just how to put your concerns at ease; her smile and words of wisdom brought comfort even at the darkest of times. Her generous soul that drove her to the hospitality industry extended far outside the business.

When her grandchildren entered the workforce, she instructed them to follow in her footsteps by caring for the needy. Yet perhaps most striking is just how humble she was; she’d never accept praise for her kind deeds. Rosine wanted the duties but none of the recognition - just one of the many qualities that made her such an icon on the Monterey Peninsula.

We will never forget Rosine, a devoted wife of 65 years to James “Big Jim” Joseph Culcasi, a loving mother to her four children, Annette (Robert) Ivers, Renee (Anthony) Davi, Jim (Susan) Culcasi, and Stephen Culcasi, and a doting Nana to her six grandchildren, Alexandra Davi, Antonino Davi, Alissa Murphy, Christopher Culcasi, Jonathan Culcasi, and Michael Culcasi, and her five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Rosine's honor.

The family will celebrate her life with a memorial mass: Thursday, July 18, at 9:30 a.m. at San Carlos Cathedral, 500 Church St., Monterey, CA Reception to follow. All are welcome to attend.