Obituary -HILDA L. "BUNNY" ROSEN

Hilda “Bunny” Rosen passed away Sept. 17, 2013. She was 85 years old. Mrs. Rosen was born to Michael and Fanny Epstein in Cologne, Germany. She lived in the German ghetto, spending every weekend with her doting grandparents. “My youthful memories are of a close-knit, loving and supportive community, where I lived comfortably,” she once said in a Heritage interview. Though she was living in pre-war Germany, she never experienced anti-Semitism until Hitler rose to power in 1936.

Foreseeing trouble, her father began transferring assets out of the country and later fled to Belgium. Her mother made arrangements for Bunny and her brother and sister to be smuggled out of the country. When she was seven, the Gestapo came to the house to arrest her mother. Fortunately, she and her mother were out shopping. When her mother found out about this, the children were taken to smugglers immediately and snuck across the border to her father. Mrs. Rosen’s mother walked for 19 hours before safely crossing the border to join the family.

At age 12, her family immigrated to America, arriving through Ellis Island and settled in Pittsburgh. Her grandparents joined them a year later.

Early on Mrs. Rosen learned the meaning of tzedakah. Her family regularly assisted community members in need, and her mother founded the first Pittsburgh Jewish Home for the Aged.

Since moving to Orlando in 1982 with her second husband, Bernard Rosen, who preceded her in death, Mrs. Rosen has been tremendously active in Hadassah, helping out in Congregation Ohev Shalom’s office, and volunteering her time at the Jewish Pavilion. She was honored numbers of times for her heartfelt commitment and efforts. Her honors have included Hadassah’s Woman of the Year in 2005, and The Jewish Pavilion’s Volunteer of the Year in 2009. She was chosen as one of Kinneret Council on Aging’s 2013 “8 over 80” honorees at Kinneret Apartments, and most recently received Hadassah’s “Love-of-a-Lifetime” award.

“Bunny Rosen is the heart of the Orlando chapter,” said Emily Rotenberg, chapter president. “We, the members, pay tribute to her today, for all she does to keep the organization running smoothly.” Rosen oversaw every aspect of the monthly meetings, awards brunch, the donor luncheon and Youth Aliyah Fashion Show. She was known for her perfection of any task she under took, be it an event venue, a casual buffet or elegant meal, donor accounts, gathering of donations, an auction or drawing. Each project was wrapped in style, dignity and grace.

Mrs. Rosen is survived by her daughters, Melissa (Sandy) Masin and Jill; and grandchildren Hunter and Carleigh.

The family of Mrs. Rosen request donations in her memory be made to The Jewish Pavilion, which has established “The Bunny Club.” Services were entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, Orlando.