ROSE PARKER

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ROSE PARKER August 1, 1921 - November 18, 2008 Rose was born in Regina in 1921 and grew up with her parents Esther and Joe Hochman and her younger brother Charlie who was born in 1923. Charlie and Rose were close all of their lives. Their parents operated general stores in various small Saskatchewan towns, including Tadmore, where they lived from 1924 to 1936 and Stenen, from 1938 to 1946. Charlie and Rose grew up with their cousins the Barsky's: Percy, Laila and Naomi. Rose remained very close to her friend and cousin Laila Barsky Silverberg (whose husband Harry passed away in 2003). Rose moved to Winnipeg when she was 18 years old, and attended the University of Manitoba from 1939 through 1942 where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree. She then attended the University of Toronto from 1942 until 1944 where she received her degree in social work. Rose formed many close friendships during her university years and remained connected to many of those friends for the rest of her life. In 1946 she moved to Winnipeg where she lived for the balance of her life. Rose worked as a social worker for a total of 28 years in various positions within various organizations. The time Rose spent working with the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society meeting orphans of the Holocaust in Halifax and in Montreal shortly after the Second World War and settling them with families in Winnipeg was her most rewarding work as a social worker, and she remained in contact with many of those orphans for the rest of her life. She lived to celebrate their 60th reunion in Winnipeg in 2007. She was married to her husband Joe Parker from 1948 until his passing in 1987. They shared a strong sense of family, common values and a genuine kindness towards everyone. Rose was the epitome of generosity - always caring about others and always putting the needs of others above her own. She constantly gave of herself without asking or expecting anything in return. She devoted much of her life to her aging parents who lived next door to her on Seven Oaks Place. Rose cared for her father Joe Hochman until his passing in 1985 and for her mother Esther until her passing in 1995. Her grandchildren, Jill, Sean and Brian Parker, were her sunshine. Rose is survived by: son Earl Parker (Reeva) of Edmonton and grandchildren, Jill, Sean and Brian; sister-in-law Irene Hochman of Calgary and daughter Sue Watmough (Ron) of Three Hills, Alberta and their children, Jennifer, Tony and Joe; and Charlie and Irene's other three children, David Hochman, Allan Hochman and Anne Laycock (Craig), all of Calgary; sister-in-law Rose Schniederman of Philadelphia; brother-in-law Philip Parker (Judy) of Calgary and their children, Bill Parker (Tamara) and Robert Parker (Shoshana) and their children, Mattaya and Aden, all of Vancouver; nieces and nephews, Beverly Potasky, Jordan Potasky (Donna) and their children, Taryn and Briggitte, Sherri Alter (Martin) and Amanda Potasky (Craig Hadley), all of Toronto; Heather Cohen (Gary) and their children, Jessica and Johnna, all of Ottawa, and Sandy Berkal (Allan) of Toronto and their children, Daniel, Adina and Sherri; sister-in-law Ruth Minuk of Winnipeg and her children, Dorothy Bergman (Joe) of Winnipeg, Morley Minuk (Kim) of Calgary and Joe Minuk (Sharon) of Winnipeg. She was predeceased by: her parents Esther and Joe Hochman; her husband Joe Parker; her brother Charlie Hochman; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Sam Potasky (Ida); her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Saul Parker (Shirley); her brother-in-law Louis Schniederman; her brother-in-law Issy Minuk; and her nephews, Gerald and Howard Potasky. The Parker family would like to thank Dr. Sheldon Koven, Nellie Maliwanag, Angie Fullante and the staff at Weinberg 2 at the Simkin Centre for all of their compassionate care. Rose will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by her family, many friends and others whose lives she touched. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a contribution to a charity of their choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 06, 2008