Rose Girone, recognised as the oldest known Holocaust survivor, died at the remarkable age of 113. Her passing was confirmed by her daughter, Reha Bennicasa, at a nursing home in Bellmore, New York.
Born Rosa Raubvogel in 1912 in what was then Russian-occupied Poland, Girone’s life encompassed both German and Japanese oppression, surviving a tumultuous era, including her husband’s internment at the notorious Buchenwald concentration camp shortly before the birth of their daughter in 1938. Girone recounted how she narrowly avoided deportation herself due to her pregnancy.
In a poignant twist of fate, she obtained a visa to Shanghai, a rare refuge for Jewish families fleeing the Nazis, through a relative in London. The family managed to leave Germany, relinquishing all their valuables, and set sail for Shanghai. Unfortunately, upon arrival, they faced yet another tragic circumstance; Japanese forces occupied the city, and Jews were forced into ghettos, living under harsh conditions.
For the rest of her life, Girone displayed extraordinary resilience, knitting clothes to support her family while creating moments of joy in the darkest times. She and her family ultimately moved to the United States after the war, where she worked as a knitting instructor and eventually opened a shop in Queens. Girone later remarried after her first marriage ended in divorce.
Throughout her life, Girone maintained a philosophy that resonated strongly with her daughter, summarised in her belief that “nothing is so bad that something good shouldn’t come out of it.” This outlook not only helped her persevere through adversity but also shaped her family’s approach to life’s challenges. Bennicasa remarked that her mother’s example prepared her to face hardships with courage.
Today, an estimated 245,000 Holocaust survivors still live, with around 14,000 residing in New York. Girone’s incredible story of survival and resilience stands as a testament to her strength and spirit.