Gerda Roze

It is with great sadness yet a sense of peace that we announce the peaceful passing of Gerda Roze on May 1, 2026.
 Born in Riga, Latvia on February 4, 1925 to the late Erna Roze and Niklojs Roze and predeceased by her son, Egil Olaf Dobrzanski and uncle Arturs Berglunds.

Gerda and her mother bravely escaped Communism during World War II, enduring five years in a Nazi political refugee camp before finding sponsorship to the United States starting in Pittsburgh and then settling in Mt. Vernon.

Gerda worked for Life Towers Watson until her retirement in 1986 after which time she started painting and was also a part-time H&R Block tax accountant.

She started painting from her early works in Cassein and Realism into Cubism, to her works in Abstract Expressionism, including her unique diptychs and triptychs, to her celebrated recent work with monotypes and collagraphs.  She had won and received numerous accolades through her artistic career. (gerdarozeart.com)

Gerda wrote a book “To Peel an Onion,” detailing her life history .

Gerda's desire to maintain her independence was paramount. As her health declined, Gerda entrusted her care to her loving friends and neighbor, Mary Behan of Yonkers and Donald King.
Gerda was a member and volunteered her accounting skills with Mamaroneck Artists Guild, Inc.
Gerda is survived by her grandson, Peter Karl Dobrzanski of Colorado, her former daughter-in-law, Koren Rhoads and her family, Camille Rhoads, Adam Rhoads, and Olivia Rhoads.  She also leaves behind family in Latvia and Ukraine.
Friends are invited to her Memorial service to be held on May 14,2026 at 11am at Yannantuono Burr Davis Sharpe Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon followed by internment at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale.

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