Rose Hurwitz

Rose "Reizel" Hurwitz passed away on October 15th 2019 at Seven Acres with loving family at her side. She was 90 years old. Rose was born on January 13, 1929 in Johannesburg, South Africa to Sarah and David Aronowitz. The oldest of four children, she spent much of her youth caring for her younger siblings, Abe, Berold and Phoebe, while also working to support her family financially. She met her husband, Ben (Barney) Hurwitz, on a blind date in 1956, and about six weeks later they were married. Rose moved with Barney to the small farming town of Molteno, where together they managed general stores (Promnick & Hurwitz and The Handy House) and had two children, Estelle and Ian. After Barney's untimely death in 1967, Rose returned with the children to Johannesburg, where she and her sister Phoebe became an inseparable duo, living, working, and raising Rose's children together. Fiercely generous, kind, and gracious - even in the face of profound adversity - Rose and Phoebe devoted themselves to family, friends, and their community. Their small apartment quickly became a favorite to all fortunate enough to know them. It was filled with joyful card games, raucous laughter, and some of the most delicious kichel, herring, and matzah balls Johannesburg has ever tasted. When grandsons eventually appeared on the scene, Rose and Phoebe's increasingly elaborate birthday cakes became the talk of the town, and Rose's beautiful, handknitted fair isle jerseys kept the boys warm and in style on chilly afternoons. In 1989, during the South African apartheid era, Rose and Phoebe immigrated to Houston to join Estelle, Ian, and their growing families. As in Johannesburg, the pair worked together - this time in a bagel shop - until Phoebe's return to South Africa a year later (despite their separation, Rose, Phoebe, and their brother Berold in Israel remained close throughout their lives, teleconferencing for hours by phone and later computer each Sunday; Abe, unfortunately had died relatively young). With Phoebe's departure, Rose put her apron aside and applied her penchant for numbers working in the accounts department at DePelchin Children's Center, an adoption home and foster agency. There she became a unanimous favorite of her co-workers and the children alike, known for her smile, work ethic, and the bottomless candy jar she kept on her desk. For over 20 years, well into her 80s, Rose was a fixture at DePelchin - winning employee appreciation awards for her integrity, reliability, and commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children. Outside of work, she continued to dote on her own, ever-growing family, baking treats as she had done years earlier with Phoebe and continuing to knit jerseys that will be passed on for generations. Her health failing but her sanguine spirit intact, Rose spent the last few years of her life at Seven Acres, where she was beloved by staff and fellow residents alike, a beacon of kindness and gentle grace until the end. She is survived by her children Estelle (husband David) and Ian (wife Karen), by her grandchildren Brett (wife Mariel), Martin (wife Meghan), Yael (husband Yossi), and Miranda (husband Kenny), and by her six great-grandchildren Jonah, Ari, Dov, Hinda, Remy, and Bailey - all of whom love and miss her very much. Her family would like to express their deep appreciation to Rose's caretakers at Seven Acres and Vitas Hospice and to Iris Fields, Charlene Stafford, and Doris Hearne. Those wishing to make donations in Rose's memory can direct contributions to the DePelchin Children's Center or a charity of their choice.

Rose Hurwitz

January 13, 1929 - October 15, 2019