Holocaust Survivor Rose Girone Passes Away at 113

At the age of 113, Rose Girone, esteemed as possibly the oldest Holocaust survivor and a prominent advocate for the preservation of survivors' stories, has passed away.

A Life in Witness

For the final ten years of her life, Girone resided in an assisted living community in North Bellmore, located on Long Island, New York. Her passing was confirmed by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, which announced her death on a Monday in New York.

Greg Schneider, executive vice president of the Claims Conference, remarked, "Rose embodied resilience. It is now our responsibility to honor her legacy by ensuring the Holocaust remains vivid in memory."

Early Life and Challenges

Born on January 13, 1912, in Janow, Poland, Girone's early years saw her family relocate to Hamburg, Germany, when she was a child. Her plans for the future were halted by the rise of Hitler in 1933, as she recounted in a 1996 interview.

As one of the estimated 245,000 Holocaust survivors across the globe, her life story is a testament to resilience amidst fading eyewitness accounts.

Struggle for Survival

Rose married Julius Mannheim in 1937 through an arranged marriage. During the Nazi escalation, she found herself heavily pregnant in Breslau, where the Gestapo seized her husband. Her plea to spare her, due to her condition, was temporarily heeded.

A series of calculated efforts on Girone's part, including securing Chinese visas, facilitated her husband's eventual release, leading them to embark on a perilous journey to Shanghai.

Their life in Shanghai was marked by hardship, as Jewish refugees were confined to a squalid ghetto. Despite adversity, Girone persevered, knitting to support her family.

A New Beginning

The end of World War II opened the path to America, with support from family in the U.S. The Girones arrived in San Francisco in 1947 with limited resources, symbolizing a new chapter.

Eventually reaching New York, Girone reintegrated into family life, reuniting with a brother she had not seen in 17 years.

Later Years and Legacy

After divorcing Mannheim, Rose remarried Jack Girone in 1968. She continued to impart wisdom to future generations, emphasizing hope and resilience: "Even in dire situations, there’s room for positivity."

Her philosophy on aging and longevity was simple—avoid stress over trivial matters, as she shared in 2022 at the age of 110.