Gladys Ruth ROSE

GLADYS RUTH (SARLIN) ROSE 'Muppa' November 2, 1926 - May 15, 2023 Gladys (Gutte Raisel) Rose was born in Saskatoon. She was the much-loved only child of Harry and Marcia Sarlin, immigrants from Minsk, Belarus. Her education included public school, high school and the University of Saskatchewan, as well as five-day-a-week after-school Hebrew School ("Cheder"), where she studied both Yiddish, which she spoke fluently at home as a child and throughout her life, and Hebrew. The only day the family grocery store ever closed was the day of her graduation from the University. She married Gerald F. (Gerry) Rose in 1946; they were happily married for 53 years. Their four Baby Boom children, Kathy, Toby, Naomi and David, were raised in a house full of love, books, laughter and high expectations. Gladys loved reading. She subscribed to and read The New Yorker every week for at least 75 years until shortly before her death when deteriorating vision made it too difficult. Gladys did extensive and high-level volunteer work for the National Council of Jewish Women, Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), Multi-Faith Saskatoon and the Royal University Hospital Foundation, among others. She was the first woman president of a Conservative synagogue in Canada, Congregation Agudas Israel in Saskatoon. A life-long learner, she obtained a Diploma in Continuing Education in 1969, becoming Chair of the Board of the Saskatoon Region Community College and the first Chair of the Saskatchewan Community Colleges Association. She received many awards, including the Sam N. Filer Award for Distinguished Service to CJC and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal. She loved Saskatoon and Saskatchewan, their history, geography, people, Jewish community, even the weather, and was delighted when a celebrity had ties to the province. She loved her family and considered that anyone who was related, however distantly, to her or to Saskatoon was a permanent member. Her sisters-in-law, Myrna Levin and Zoe Gropper and their husbands were as close as siblings. Gerry and, as he called her, Glady, held no grudges, believing that the only behavior one could control was one's own. They were known as the Simcha Roses, travelling to weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, graduations and other celebrations whenever invited. They cultivated friends of all ages. After being widowed and living alone for several years, with great foresight she decided to move to Toronto in 2005, to be closer to her children. She lived independently, made new friends, joined and attended shabbat services at Congregation Darchei Noam, had an Adult Bat Mitzvah, played bridge and joined a book club. When living alone became too isolating, she moved to the Russell Hill Retirement Residence, where she made new friends, joined a new community and participated in new activities. During COVID and as she became less able, she appreciated Holy Blossom Temple's Shabbat services which were easily available on a tablet supplied by the Russell Hill. Gladys suffered many tragic losses, including the deaths of her husband in 1999, daughter Kathy in 2000, daughter Naomi in 2016 and Kathy's husband, Gerry Cooper, in 2017. But she considered herself lucky and was at heart happy, resilient and positive. She is survived by her daughter, Toby Rose (Les Klein); son, David Rose (Marlene Kates); son-in-law, Stan Sinai; 14 grandchildren (and 12 partners); and 12 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Thank you to the wonderful staff of the Russell Hill, the caregivers of Toronto Living Care Services and to Dr. Marnie Howe and the palliative care team of the Temmy Latner Centre for their compassionate care and MAiD. Funeral services were held at Congregation Darchei Noam in Toronto on May 16, and burial took place at the cemetery of Congregation Agudas Israel in Saskatoon on May 17. Shiva dates and times in Toronto are available on the Benjamin's Memorial website. Gladys believed in tzedakah and was a generous supporter of many charities. Please consider a donation in her memory to Congregation Darchei Noam in Toronto, Congregation Agudas Israel in Saskatoon, Save a Child's Heart or a Charity of Your Choice.