Rose Green, 94
Wife, mother, grandmother, bridge player, golfer, tennis player, family style consultant. Born April 12, 1916, in Toronto. Died March 3, 2011, in Toronto of heart failure, aged 94.
Rose Green was one of five children of Samuel and Rebecca Persiko, industrious Jewish immigrants whose positive outlook likely contributed to Rose's adaptability and resilience in the face of challenges.
At 16, Rose met David Green, who lived down the block. Smitten by the handsome medical student who made her laugh, Rose didn't sit back when she wanted to see Dave again. She simply headed over to his house, stood under his bedroom window and whistled.
Following their marriage in 1936, the couple moved to Cincinnati, then Philadelphia, where Dave completed his studies. Upon their return to Toronto, Dave opened his medical practice. Concerned about how it would look if the office didn't seem busy, Rose recruited her sister Sylvia, and together they installed themselves in Dave's new waiting room pretending to be patients so he would appear in demand.
Rose and Dave had two children, Lawrence and Elaine. When Larry was about 4 he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive, usually fatal, disease. Rose channelled her energy into creating a stimulating, cheerful atmosphere at home as well as supporting Dave in his work founding Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
Larry's death at 20 marked the beginning of a new chapter in Rose's life. She and Dave travelled, played golf, tennis and bridge, wintered in Florida and entertained friends. They were, as the expression goes, "joined at the hip."
Stylish, with a regal air, Rose held strong opinions and was famous for her forthright mode of delivery. When her favourite (and only) grandchild Stephanie returned from a vacation sporting a newly pierced nose, Rose didn't say a word. However, at camp a few months later, Stephanie received a letter with handwriting on the envelope that looked remarkably like her grandmother's. Inside was a newspaper clipping from an anonymous sender describing all the terrible consequences of an infected body piercing. Questioned later, Rose denied, denied, denied.
In her 80s, Rose survived cardiac bypass surgery, breast cancer and a series of broken bones. As Dave declined from Alzheimer's disease, Rose stood by his side. After 70 years of marriage, Dave died at 96.
At 91, Rose settled into a new retirement home, where she struck up a romance with a fellow resident. Rejuvenated, with a new spring in her step, she flirted like a teenager.
Ironically, it was her heart that finally gave out. She will best be remembered by the words her beloved Dave wrote on the back of a photo of himself: "To the sweetest Rose of them all."
Elaine Green Markowitz is Rose's daughter; Stephanie Markowitz is Rose's granddaughter.