Rosa Katharina Singh

Rosel Singh (born Rosa Katharina Frickel) died peacefully in Tampa, Florida, on 20 October 2024. She is survived by her husband, Padamjit Singh; her children, Aneek Shoemaker, Ilina Singh and Manjit Singh; grandchildren Christopher Zepf, Katherine Zepf, Matthew Fisher; and Alessa and Liana Lewis; and a great grandson, Luca Zepf. She had a close and loving relationship with Manjit’s wife, Melissa Johnson. She is also survived by her brothers, Horst and Heinrich Frickel, and her sister, Gisela Bahl. Rosel was born on 13 November, 1931 in Darmstadt, Germany to Käthe and Fritz Frickel. Her father was killed in WWII in 1943. In 1956, Rosel left Germany to work in Cambridge, United Kingdom, where she met Padamjit, a dashing undergraduate studying economics, who hailed from Chandigarh, India. They married in 1962, with wedding celebrations in Germany, India and Sudan. After Padamjit graduated, the couple moved to Vienna, Austria, where they become parents to their three children: Aneek, Ilina (John), and Manjit (Melissa). Rosel loved their home in Purkersdorf on the edge of the Vienna woods, and planted a beautiful garden that flourishes to this day. When Padamjit was offered a job with the United Nations in New York City, the family moved on to new adventures, first in Rye, NY and then in Easton CT, where they lived for 25 years. Rosel greatly enjoyed ‘the Easton house’, which was also set against a backdrop of beautiful woodland and had a garden full of flowers and herbs. The couple ultimately moved to Florida where their son Manjit, daughter Aneek, and Rosel’s sister Gisela (Vinesh) also reside. In her final home in Tampa, Rosel could often be found sitting on her balcony enjoying the sunshine and the view of the bay. The staff and her friends at Allegro Hyde Park were wonderful to her in her last years. She was a favourite at the daily happy hours. Rosel was a vibrant personality who had astonishing energy and resilience, as well as a healthy sense of fun and adventure throughout her life. She loved to travel, particularly to Europe and India. With Padamjit and friends, and later with her children, she visited some beautiful places in the world, always enjoying herself to the fullest. She adored her grandchildren and was persistent in staying closely connected and making as many visits to them as she could, even in later life. She was a steadfast companion and support to Padamjit for 64 years; and through many visits and weekly phone calls, she stayed close to her family in Germany. She was particularly close to her brother Horst Frickel (Renate) and his family. Her family will especially miss her joyful laughter, her love of dancing and singing, and her ability to make the best even of difficult situations. Celebrations of Rosel’s life are planned in Tampa, Florida and in Darmstadt, Germany. Those wishing to commemorate Rosel are invited to make a donation in Rosel’s name to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, 3607 N Armenia Avenue, Tampa FL 33607.