Longtime Menifee resident Beth Rosen passes away

Menifee resident Beth Rosen passed away Tuesday at the age of 75. For 50 years, she was married to former Menifee Parks, Recreation and Trails Commissioner Martin Rosen, who died in June 2019. The Rosens were very active in the community and were instrumental in the formation of Menifee’s annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony. Following is Beth Rosen’s obituary, submitted by family and friends:

With heavy hearts, we share that Beth Dee Rosen passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 19, 2021 after a short but vigorous battle with cancer.

She was born in New York on June 27, 1945. Beth grew up in Brooklyn and Queens. She received a BA and a Master’s degree from Queens College. She spent her 30-year career as a special education teacher in the New York City public school system. She also owned and ran a travel agency in her home state of New Jersey, and continued her work for travel clients when she “retired” to Menifee, California.

Beth was married to the love of her life, Martin Rosen, for 50 years before he passed away on June 10, 2019. She and Marty traveled the world together. To the children whose lives they touched, they were fancy and exotic and approachable and loving. They were like fairy godparents.

Beth loved animals like whales and birds and giraffes; she collected bells; her favorite color was purple (Marty’s was red); she loved M&Ms and chocolate and cheesecake and tiramisu. Marty loved all things Disney; 007 Bond (James Bond); and Beth. She spoke Hebrew, made delicious Thanksgiving meals with dessert tables to rival Versailles, and would take the time to talk to anyone who needed her to listen. She was an avid game player, especially cards and mahjong.

They were active in their neighborhood, where Beth was a founding member of “Showtime at the Oasis” in Menifee, where they were instrumental in establishing the annual city Menorah lighting tradition. Beth survived two bouts with cancer but succumbed the third and final time.

Together, Beth and Marty enjoyed good food, good fun, and great friends. They left us too soon and we will always remember them with love in our hearts.

Beth is survived by her mother, Anne Werfel of Las Vegas, Nevada, and her brother, David Werfel of Delray Beach, Florida. Beth will be interred at Greenwood Memorial Park, 4300 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA 92113, in the King David Garden, lot 365, grave 2, on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 at 2 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

The Graveside service will be live streamed via Zoom, with a memorial get together (at the same Zoom link) two hours after the graveside service concludes, to allow those in physical attendance to return home.

                                                       One of Beth Rosen's favorite animals was the giraffe.