Mary Rose Surasky

SURASKY, Mary Rose (Greenberg) passed away peacefully at University Community Hospital-Carrollwood on Sat., August 31, 2002. She was a 24 year resident of Tampa. Before her illness, she was a resident at Weinberg Village, Assisted Living Senior Residences. Mary is survived by her two sons, Charles Surasky of Reisterstown, Maryland and Miron Mercury of Oakland, Calif.; and her daughter, Abby Surasky of Brooklyn,New York. Her daughter, Rabbi Chana (Surasky) Timoner, a chaplain and captain in the US Army, died in 1998 following a tour of duty in South Korea. Mary's five grandchildren include Aviva (Timoner) Bellego,Samson Timoner, Sarah Rose Sawilowsky, Avram "Jack" Sawilowsky and Sarah Anne Surasky. Mary was born to Abraham and Sara Greenberg on January 17, 1923 in New Haven, Conn. After high school, she joined the Women's Army Corps in 1943. She was stationed in Camp Robinson, outside Little Rock, Ark., a key military training installation, where, in addition to being in charge of the CampInformation Bureau, she helped teach new recruits and Nazi POW's to read English. Later she was assigned to the Military Police at Fort Smith, Ark., where she was the only woman in her office. Honorably discharged in 1946 at Fort Sheridan, Ill., as Private First Class, she was awarded the Army Victory Medal, the American Theater Ribbon, the WAC Service Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal. She married Abraham J. "Al" Surasky of New Haven on October 26, 1947. They resided there until his retirement from his railroad career in 1978. He preceded her in death on February 19, 1997. Mary was an active member and the firstwoman Commander (1981-84) of Florida Jewish War Veterans Albert S. Aronovitz Post 373, Florida Gulf Coast District, and a long-term volunteer at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. Graveside Services willbe held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3, at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park on Dr. MLK, Jr. Blvd. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary's memory may be directed to: Hillel School of Tampa, 2020 W. Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33612 BETH DAVID FUNERAL CHAPEL-TAMPA (813) 874-3330