LOSING ROSE—SAYING GOODBY

My friend Rose Broady died in November. I am finally able to say “Good Bye.”

My Rose was 84 years old and full of life. She had the most beautiful and gregarious person. She kept friends around her. She loved gay men but was married several times and always had a male friend or so.

If Rose loved you, she was your champion and supporter. She allowed no one to speak bad about you around her.

Rose and I worked together for almost twenty years. She loved me as a social worker so much that she stated that she wanted to be a counselor. I helped her become a substance abuse counselor. I loved her and wanted her to be successful and happy.

She begged me to come visit her. She did not want me to stay in the hotel that I had reserved. I was to live in her home during my stay. She died two days before I arrived. I sent police to her home to make welfare checks and they became angry at me for my persistence. I knew that it was not like Rose not to respond to my call even if she did so later. I did not know that she had died or been killed in her home. Some type of robbery appeared to have occurred. She had renters in two homes and the money was missing along with her purse and computer. Her home was set up with cameras. She had dental work two days before and she stated to others that she was not feeling well. She appears to have died in the night.

I knew her as a loyal friend. She attended my swearing in as a lawyer and the party later. When I was falsely accused of a crime, she was my strongest supporter. She testified at my hearing for my Social Work license. She and I worked together at Michigan Health Center, Mercy Hospital and Harper Hospital at the Detroit Medical Center. We loved and adored each other. Someone once falsely accused me of taking something–like nine dollars from a collection that I was taking up for a co-worker who had lost his mother. The other workers did not like him and would not do a usual collection. I did one to show him that he was loved. He was surprised that many that he knew did not give and accused me of taking the money or not giving him all of the money. Rose cursed him out and told him that I was the most generous person she knew and I would never cheat or steal from anyone. I am told that she really let him have it. I loved her for her loyalty. She championed the gay in much the same way. She accepted everyone for who they were as persons. I loved Rose Broady. Yesterday was the second month of her transition/passing. I would always buy any Rose that I saw in my travels and bring it to her. I will miss her calls. I was her social worker and lawyer until she died. I could not stop crying all day yesterday. Then I remembered why.  Goodby Rose. God loves you. You were too precious to lose.