It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of the Wizner and Weiberth family matriarch, Rosa Irene Weiberth (Weber), ‘Rose’, at the age of 88.

Rose was born in the German village of Weindorf, located in Pest county in the Budapest metropolitan area of Hungary, on August 8th, 1935. Rose was repatriated to Germany with her family soon after the end of WWII, settling in Mergelstetten, Heidenheim, in Southern Germany. It was here Rose met her childhood sweetheart, and soulmate, Franz Weiberth. The young couple regularly frequented the local Heidenheim dancehall together, sharing their passion of music and dancing.

Rose and Franz welcomed their first daughter, and Rose’s namesake, Rosa in 1955. The young couple were married shortly afterwards on February 11th, 1956, just prior to packing up their lives in Germany for new beginnings in the United States. Franz set off by boat to lay a foundation in New Jersey, with the support of the Catholic Relief Services, with Rose to follow soon afterwards.

In 1956, Rose gave birth to a son, Franz. She then set off, with her two young children, to reunite with her husband and begin their life in America together. Travelling by plane, Rose held four-month-old Franz on her lap, with toddler Rosa on the floor between her legs for the journey. A local journalist published a piece in the newspaper upon their arrival, as he was so taken by Franz meeting his newborn son for the first time, and Rose’s maternal strength to travel with two young children on her own across the ocean. The new family of four started their American dream, settling in Clifton, NJ. Later, in 1962, Rose gave birth to her second daughter, Elizabeth, completing her family.

It was always a dream for Rose and Franz to build their own home, and when they had the means to do so, they bought land in Totowa, NJ and began making the plans. They moved into this forever home in Totowa, NJ around the holidays of 1979, and Rose lived here until 6 months before her passing. The house was designed by Franz, and both Rose and Elizabeth also had a hand in its construction. However, it was Rose who made it a home. She spackled, painted, and varnished, but it was her warmth, good nature and love of family that always made the house sparkle. Extremely house proud, Rose could be found cleaning windows, decorating for every holiday, patching the driveway, shoveling snow and laying mulch well into her 80’s.

Rose tackled every obstacle with the grit and determination that came to define her as the strong-willed matriarch her family idolized. She worked several jobs, walking to and from before she had a driver’s license, notably with International Paper Company (Passaic), ElectroScan (Garfield) and ADT (Clifton), before retiring at 42 to become a full-time grandmother, and adopting her proudest title, that she would lovingly be referred to for the rest of her life - “Oma”.

Rose’s grandchildren were the apple of her eye. She was rarely seen during these years without Joey, Stephanie, or Zachary in tow - school pick-ups, trips to the grocery store (never without a stop at the deli counter for salami on a bagel), picking her husband up from work, or window-shopping crystal and fine china at Fortunoffs, always concluded with an ice cream cone. Rose never missed a band concert, dance recital, chorus performance, or big sports game for her grandkids, beaming with pride with every note, dance step, or athletic endeavor.

In 1998, Rose’s soulmate sadly passed away. She loved to reminisce about their adventures together - trips to Europe, Sanibel Island, and especially their trip to Paris for her birthday on 8/8/88, highlights that always brought a tear to her eye. The yellow roses Franz regularly bought Rose become a symbol of their life together, and a dozen yellow roses were regularly on prominent display in her home for the years after he passed.

Rose’s three children, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren loved her dearly. Rose would host frequent family dinners and holiday celebrations even into her 80’s. Her delicious home cooked meals served alongside her iconic German potato salad were always followed by delicious homemade poppyseed desserts. She always had a bottle of Andre Champagne, with never much reason needed to pop it!

Rose took meticulous pride in her appearance. She would never be seen without her trademark orange nails, matching purse to her heeled shoes, complementary gold jewelry, and fresh blonde and permed hair. She loved listening to music – Hansi Hinterseer, Willie Nelson, Die Amigos, and the Chipmunks Christmas album were favorites.  She would make her own mixtapes by recording individual favorite songs from CDs onto cassettes to play on her Walkman and in her red car.

Rose was a strong, proud, caring and resilient woman. From childhood in occupied Hungary during WWII, to emigrating to America without speaking English, to being a beacon of strength for the family after the loss of her husband, to beating cancer in her 80’s – her will and composure was something that resonated to all who were lucky enough know her.

Rose and her late daughter Rosa shared a particularly strong companionship - Christmas Day dinners at Charlie Browns, trips to Sanibel Island and Mexico, a love of German heritage and Riesling. They were two fiercely independent women; losing her best friend in Rosa this past February of 2023 weighed heavily on her heart.

Rose passed on August 20th, 2023, peacefully in her sleep at CareOne Nursing Home, having lived a full and independent life up until a hip fracture in January of 2023. Rose is predeceased by her husband Franz Weiberth, sisters Giesel and Elvira, brother Rudolph, daughter Rosa Gifford, and Grandson Joey Rizzo. She is survived by her brother Josef,  sister Maria 'Mitsi', son Franz Weiberth, daughter-in-law Carol Weiberth, daughter Elizabeth Wizner, son-in-law Adam Wizner, six grandchildren, Erika, Kurt, Stephanie, Zachary, Sydney and Zoe, and six great-grandchildren, Nora, Saoirse, Agnes, Carol, Imogen and Roland.

There will be a private cremation, but we hope you'll join us for a memorial service in Rose’s honor on September 22nd, from 4pm – 7pm at Scanlan Funeral Home in Pompton Plains, NJ.

Rest in the sweetest peace, Rose. You are loved. 

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