Rose Foster, 89, a well-known community worker from Bokmakierie, was buried on Friday April 25. She died after a short illness on Sunday April 20.
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Well known, much-loved and respected community worker, Rose Foster, 89, was laid to rest on Friday April 25, after a short illness.
Ms Foster’s Bokmakierie home has been a hive of activity for many years, as residents flocked there for food, advice or a word of encouragement, her daughter, Penny Foster said.
She was affectionately known as Aunty Rose to all who knew her. Ms Foster served as a victim support volunteer at Athlone SAPS for many years – and that is just one of the hats she has worn over the years.
Aunty Rose was also an ambassador for Cape Mental Health, served at a soup kitchen, was part of the tuberculosis (TB) support group, where people came to collect their tablets from her home, and she served on the health committee.
Retired district manager of the department of social development, Ann Ntebe, described Aunty Rose as Athlone’s own Mother Teresa.
Said Ms Ntebe: “Aunty Rose was so passionate about helping poor people. She also knew her community so well and where the need was. She was a very well-known and respected person. I met Aunty Rose in August 2002 when I was the district manager of the Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation. She was a volunteer on the After-Hours Child Abuse Programme, based at the Saartjie Baartman Centre. They protected children who were abandoned and abused. These services were from 4pm to midnight. What a committed, responsible, caring and loving human being Aunty Rose was.
"She was the true granny that any person in need could turn to. Her work and dedication to the young women of the Garden Village Home under Cape Mental Health are exceptional. She would have a Christmas party for the ladies every year without fail. She would save some of her pension throughout the year to buy all kinds of gifts and delicious food.
"Aunty Rose was such an exceptional woman of strength. She had a positive influence on all our lives,” Ms Ntebe said.
Captain Ian Bennett, who worked closely with the late Aunty Rose at SAPS, echoed Ms Ntebe’s memories of her, saying she earned the title “Mother Teresa” with humility.
“Aunty Rose was a woman who opened her heart and her home to the destitute. She will be remembered as a stalwart of victim empowerment and a staunch activist against gender-based violence (GBV) within the South African Police Service and the community. A woman who celebrated her birthday at and with Cape Mental Health for as long as we know her.
“Aunty Rose stood the test of time and has offered her life to the service of people. She was always connected with people. Now she is connected with God and forever in our hearts. We salute her, as we stand and promise to fill her gap of light, love and service. Aunty Rose can only be described as a woman of noble character, known for her faithfulness, integrity, and ability to manage her household and resources wisely. She was also a woman of no fear, and she leaves a legacy of kindness, touching our lives with integrity and dignity. Aunty Rose had a reputation that preceded her. It's been an honour and a privilege that Aunty Rose's life, including her family, has crossed my life's journey,” Captain Bennett said.
Her daughter, Penny Foster, said her mother loved everybody.
“The one thing I will remember her by is that she gave love to everybody. Our door was always open for whoever needed my mother. Since her passing, on Easter Sunday, our family has been inundated with stories from so many people about how our mother helped them. She had a big impact on so many people’s lives. I can still see her encouraging a young married couple, for example, who came to her for marital advice. Everybody had a story to tell. As her children, we don’t know where our mom found the time to engage with and help so many people. Nobody left our home empty-handed, or without a cup of tea or coffee,” Ms Foster said.
Ms Foster added that her mother had a bad fall, and within an hour of arriving at Christiaan Barnard Hospital, she passed on.
Aunty Rose is survived by two of her four children.