Hadassah Rosen

Rosen, Hadassah 8/9/1932 - 1/19/2021 Kalamazoo Hadassah Rachel Rosen, ne Lasser Weitzman, was born on August 9th, 1932 in Chicago, IL. She was raised primarily in Detroit, MI. Her parents were Arnold Weitzman and Hulda Weitzman, ne Lasser. Her father was an internationally renowned architect-engineer, and her mother was a librarian. Hadassah was always proud of her family connection to Chaim Weitzman, first President of Israel. Hadassah earned a degree in Education, worked as a substitute teacher, including teaching special education students. Outside of the classroom, she was active in the philanthropic organization Hadassah. She was an avid and voracious reader, especially of biographies, history, mysteries and science fiction. Hadassah maintained a keen interest in current events, scouring each new edition of The Economist and the New York Times. She was a member of several book groups and movie groups, attended many classes at the JCC and participated in the Institute of Retired Professionals (IRP) discussion group. After World War II, she married Irving Rosen, a U.S. veteran who had served in Europe. Irving was an accountant and educator, who rose from teacher to Director of Vocational Education for Ferndale School district. Irving was also elected to the Oak Park Board of Education several times, with Hadassah's crucial help and support in his campaigns. They raised four children in their Oak Park home, and their house was always an open and welcoming destination for neighborhood kids and friends. Hadassah was outgoing and friendly to everyone she met, and possessed a great degree of humility. She loved the intellectual give and take of a spirited conversation, especially around current events (and as her daughter Linda put it, "You had better not debate her unless you are prepared to lose."). Hadassah also greatly enjoyed music, and was very fond of classical and jazz, her interest nurtured by her training in violin and piano in her youth. In her later years, Hadassah moved to Friendship Village senior living center in Kalamazoo, MI., where she made many new friends. This move let her be much closer to her family in the area, especially her adored great-grandchildren. She participated in many activities at Friendship Village, including a weekly "Jewish Ladies" luncheon. Hadassah also devoted more time to her Torah studies and reading of the Siddur, which gave her great comfort. On January 19, 2021, Hadassah died peacefully after a brief illness. Her daughter Linda and granddaughter Emily were with her in her last moments. She was preceded in death by her husband Irving, daughter Barbara and son Arthur; she is survived by her daughters Debra (Scott) Burdman and Linda (Kevin) Anderson, grandchildren Emily (Ben) Gross, Steven (Lissa Black) Anderson, Brian (Kasey Hewson) Anderson, Suzanne Burdman and Elizabeth Burdman, and great-grandchildren Adalyn, Nolan and Easton Gross. She is mourned by many relatives and friends. The crown of a good name was hers. Hebrew Memorial Chapel 26640 Greenfield Rd Oak Park ,Mi 48237 hebrewmemorial.org