Gertrude Rosner-Levin

March 17th 1923 to Janette and Luke Poleiner at a Catholic Hospital in The Bronx. Mom always said that the Nuns wanted her mother to name her Patricia, but Nana refused. The crash came in '29 but the Poleiners weathered the depression well, as Lukes photographic business was in demand. Luke had taught aerial photography during WW 1. During childhood Gertrude had Scarlett Fever, a very serious disease at the time and due to the infection, she developed a heart murmur that persisted, but failed to slow her down throughout her long life. World War Il came following the Great War of Civilization and many of the men in The Bronx, where she lived with her family, interrupted their lives to fight in Europe and in the Pacific to preserve the freedoms that we, as Americans, continue to hold dear. The war ended and the boys that went to war came back as men, and Gertrude, met her first husband Harvey one evening in Poe park in the Bronx, where they had lived in the same neighborhood, but had never met. They married in 1948, Honeymooning in Mexico City. Harvey gave up his job selling medical equipment in Central America and became foreman of the photographic plant that Luke owned in Mid-Town Manhattan. Michael was born in 1950 and Brian followed in 1953. In 1954 the Rosners left the Bronx to, "Move out to the Country," settling in North Wantagh on Long Island and becoming the firsts of their generation to be Home owners, in what we now

call Suburbia. The Rosners wanted a girl and in 1957 Jan Ruth was born.

Gertrude remained a stay at home mom until the kids had grown up quite a bit and then took a job in the office of Bond bread and later with the now defunked Lafayette Radio Corporation. In the late '70's with all the children no longer living at home, Harvey moved and took a job in South Miami with a large Haberdashery firm called Barons, which was located at the Dadeland Mall, Harvey, being fluent in Spanish from his G I Bill classes at the Berlitz School and his sales experience in Central

America, made him a valued employ at that location. Gertrude sold the house in Wantagh, herself and they bought a condo at Horizons West in Kendall Florida. In the mid- 90's they moved again, to Century Village, a goal mom had yearned for, for many years. Harvey passed away in 1999. Gertrude was now living alone after 50 years of marriage to the same man. Trudi recovered fmm the loss of her spouse with the same exn•aordinary strength that would typify her remaining years. She was introduced to Merwin Levin, by Gloria and Irwin Marshall, close friends of both of them and friends of many of you present here today. Merv would become the second love of her life. Both Trudi and Merv had lost their spouses around the same time a year prior to their introduction. They married in 2001 and helped form the Village Reform Congregation in Century Village of which many of you present, were

and are members of that congregation. After their wedding Mom and Merv, started traveling internationally, quite a lot each year, an activity both of them had been denied due to the poor heath of

both of their previous spouses. They visited Greece, England, Scandinavia, Russia and the Holy Land. A number of years back Mom broke her hip while in China and survived the Chinese Medical system. They went on Cruises two to three times a year, becoming one of Royal

Caribbeans most valued customers. In the past decade Mom had multiple hospitalizations, miraculously recovering to her pre-illness state each time. Trudi was the patient we, as health care workers, are always incredibly proud of and point to for other patients, as an example of what mental determination can achieve. Merv was integral in her recovery, being a most involved patient advocate for her. About two years ago Trudi lost her sight as the result of a stroke, but that didn't deter them from continuing to go on Cruises. Mom liked to tell us that when Merv held her hand, guiding her around the deck of the ship, other passengers thought this elderly couple were holding hands because they were so in love, and truthfully they were. On Saturday, October 16th Mom had the, "Big one," that has caused us to gather at this holy place of worship. Of interest, I spoke with my Mother the Friday before the cerebral event and she expressed concern about what would happen to Merv or her if each

proceeded the other in death. Well, she has no worries and no discomfort now. 98 and a half years; indeed a long and fruitful life, with 3 living children and their spouses, 4 grand children and 1 great grand son.

And Finally:

There is a time for everything, and there is a season for every purpose under the heavens:

There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to reap, a time to kill and a time to heal,

There is a time to tear down, and a time to build up, a time to weep and a time to laugh, and so important to remember at this time, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

Let us all rejoice in Trudi's long and fruitful life. Certainly her glass was more than full, it was over flowing.