Rowena Rosen

Rowena Rosen, 77, of Malden, MA, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2025, surrounded by her family. Rowena was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend who touched many lives.
Born in Manchester, England in 1948 to Rose and Emanuel Rosen, she moved to the United States with her family as a young girl. She graduated from Amsterdam High School in New York and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in English from SUNY Albany. After college, she found time for adventure, traveling to the Amazon Rainforest with friends and began a long career as a social worker for the Department of Transitional Assistance.
During this time, she met her husband, Mordy, and together, they raised a family, found time to travel, and enjoyed spending time at art museums, birdwatching, or just sharing a bench at Revere Beach or Cambridge Commons.
She had many friends and always looked forward to family and social gatherings, when she could catch up with the people she loved. An avid book lover, she also found time to volunteer as a Friend of the Malden Public Library.
Rowena is survived by her loving husband, Mordy Melnitsky; her son, Stuart Melnitsky (Donna Kasabula); her daughter, Jennifer Melnitsky (Mark Rubin); her grandson, Josh Melnitsky; her brother Marty Rosen (Sudi Solomon); her sister, Maxine Rosen; her nephew, Zach Rosen (Harumi Matsumoto); and her niece, Emma Rosen (Will Beyer). She was predeceased by her parents and brother-in-law, Art Swanson.
A private graveside memorial service was held on Monday, November 10, 2025, at Temple Shalom of Medford Cemetery. Rowena was a steadfast supporter of Israel and the Jewish people. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Rowena's memory to Israeli, Jewish, or other charities of your choice. May her memory be a blessing.