Israel's intimate and closely-knit circle of immigrant Anglo poets is fondly recalling a woman who supported the legacy of her pioneering husband, right up until her dying day.
Susie Rose, 87, died on July 31, in the middle of a heart operation, according to Wendy Blumfield, president of Voices Israel Group of Poets in English. The group was co-founded in 1971 by Rose's husband Reuben, who died in 1989.
Rose had since been involved with Voices and with preserving the memory of her husband. In fact, she spent the day before she died addressing and mailing 73 envelopes containing copies of a book of collections of poems and letters written by Reuben Rose. The book had arrived from the printer only two days earlier.
"It was her dream to see this book published," said Blumfield, whose organization boasts 150 members and eight local chapters. It also publishes an annual anthology of works.
"We are so happy that she saw it before she died."
Mrs. Rose was a longtime resident of Haifa's Neve Sha'anan neighborhood and had worked for years in the Admissions Office at the Technion. She spent her final years at a home for seniors in Jerusalem.
In March she attended a Voices Israel event during which prizes were given for the group's annual Reuben Rose Poetry Competition.
"She made sure to attend this event every year," said Blumfield, who knew the Roses since 1974.
Rose, a native of Frankfurt, moved to London before immigrating to Israel, where she met her husband. She left no immediate survivors, but those who knew her say she will be greatly missed.
"Susie was full of life and extremely intelligent," said Blumfield.
