Rose Eloise Caldera, age 96 of Santa Maria passed away Sunday, August 24th at Villa Maria Convalescent Hospital in Santa Maria, CA. Rose, better known as “Buddie”, was born on May 28, 1912 in San Luis Obispo, CA to Peter and Marika Bondesen.
When she was 3 years old, the family moved to Salinas, CA purchasing what is now the E.E. Hardin Ranch property. Educated in the Salinas School District, Buddie met and soon married the “handsome” Hollister cowboy, Bill Caldera on November 2, 1932. They made their home in San Benito County most all of their married life, living in Hollister and San Juan Bautista. Buddie was a homemaker and mother of one son, Bill Jr. She loved her home and was well known for her gardening, having one of the most beautiful gardens in the County. She had an extraordinary way with animals, her cats, dogs and especially her horses. She loved playing the piano, though she never had lessons she could play anything, all by ear.
Learning to ride and rope was the highlight of her life, roping at the many calf brandings in the county and the roping events at the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show held in Hollister every June. Buddie won several trophies in these events with both Bill, Sr. and Bill, Jr.
Her most memorable award was winning the Best Cowgirl Horse & Outfit at the Salinas California Rodeo, and in 1983, the 50th Anniversary of the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show, being asked to carry the Amreican Flag during the Grand Entry Parade with Russell Hodges and John Baumgartner.
Buddie also loved deer hunting, making many out of state trips with family and friends to Nevada and Utah.
May of 2000, she and Bill, Sr. moved to Los Alamos, CA to be near her family. Three years were spent in Santa Maria being lovingly cared for by caregivers, Rey, Chris, and Donnett at Janelles RCFE.
Buddie leaves son, Bill and wife Mary of Los Alamos, grandson Kelly and wife, Londi, and great-grandson Wyatt of Los Alamos; granddaughter Susette and husband Al, and great-grandson Karsen of Santa Maria and many nieces and nephews in the Hollister and Salinas areas.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill in September of 2002; brothers Harry, Victor, Frank and Henry Bondesen; sisters Pearl Nielsen, Polly Prader, Cecelia Deiss and Jane Conley of Salinas, as well as sisters-in-law Babe Hubbell and Hazel Indart of Hollister.
Friends are invited to attend the funeral service and celebration of Buddie’s life on Friday, August 29th at 11:00 A.M. at the Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home 870 San Benito St., Hollister 95023. Interment will follow at the family plot at Calvary Cemetery, Hollister. Memorials are preferred to the San Benito County Saddle Horse Association Museum c/o the mortuary chapel.
