With profound sorrow, we announce the end of the noble and exemplary life of our most treasured mother, Doris Rosenhek, on April 20, 2022, at the age of 98.
Mom is survived by her beloved sons, Dr. Shoel, Mark (Ruth Darmon) and Steven (Dr. Bonnie Burke). She was the proud grandmother of Benjamin, Julian, Jonathan, Sarah and Jackson. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Clarence Rosenhek, and her parents, Bernard and Shaindel (Lafeman) Steinberg and an unnamed newborn brother.
Born in Poland as her parents and grandfather travelled from Russia to a new life in Canada, Mom was birthed by a midwife, her crib a basket of straw. The family settled in Sherbrooke, Quebec, where she grew up. A gifted student, Mom went on to business college in Montreal and worked as a bookkeeper at Finebro Dress in Montreal until she married our father in 1950. As intelligent as Mom was, she could have achieved great success in any endeavour. However, her choice was to devote herself to raising her family. Being a wife and a mother to her “three diamonds“ was Mom’s greatest joy and source of pride.
Mom was beautiful, refined and always a lady. She had exacting standards, insisting that work be done well or else not done at all. Mom confidently modelled values of hard work, perseverance and integrity. Above all, she reinforced the importance of family bonds. How Mom glowed with happiness when she talked about her family and revelled in family celebrations and successes! She appreciated fine, handmade objects, including art, antiques and porcelain. Mom was a consummate hostess and her hospitality was generously extended.
Endowed with superior common sense and wisdom, Mom could always be counted on to give the right advice and encouragement. She carried us on her strong shoulders which were always available to lean or cry on. Mom set the gold standard for being a mother.
Having an extraordinary capacity to extend kindness to others, Mom was compassionate, empathetic and caring. She had a wonderful ability to let a person know that she was genuinely listening to them and interested in their well-being. Mom had a soft spot for babies and children. She loved helping people, often welcoming strangers into our home for meals and accommodation. Mom gave generously of herself to her community, as a member of the Beth Israel Ohev
Shalom Congregation Sisterhood and the Jeffery Hale Hospital Women’s Auxiliary in Quebec City, and the Baycrest Hospital in Toronto. Canadian Hadassah-Wizo honoured her with a life membership for her decades of dedicated service.
We will forever cherish Mom’s goodness, caring and selfless devotion. The light of our mother’s lifetime of love has dimmed but it will never be extinguished. Mom’s legacy will remain with us. We will carry her in our hearts forever. Funeral service was held at Beth Tikvah Synagogue, Toronto on April 24.