Bertha Rose Rifkin 1927- 2024 

Bertha, known to her family and friends as Buffy, age 97, passed away at St. Patrick’s Manor in Framingham on November 20th. Buffy was the daughter of Marion and Stephen Rose. Growing up on a farm in North Branford, Connecticut, she experienced a wonderful childhood of farm life and animal care as well as the joys of fishing and cavorting on the farm. She played the violin and the piano and loved to spend time with friends and play games. Given their proximity to the water, she was assigned a ‘watch’ time looking for submarines during World War II. 

After attending high school in New Haven, she attended the University of Connecticut where she majored in secretarial science. There she met Alfred and fell in love. Following graduation, she followed Alfred to Manila, Philippines where they married in 1951 and lived for a brief period while Alfred ran a mother-of-pearl button factory. Following their return to the United States, their daughter, Bonnie, was born. After living in Stamford, Manchester, Trumbull, Connecticut, and Orchard Lake, Michigan, Buffy resided in Sherborn, Massachusetts where she lived for 40 years, the last 10 on her own following Alfred’s passing. 

In November of 2019, Buffy moved to an assisted living apartment at St. Patrick’s Manor in Framingham eventually transitioning to round the clock care there. Buffy is survived by her daughter Bonnie and husband Andy of Westborough, MA, and her grandson Dustin of Boulder, Colorado. Her husband Alfred, grandson Christopher, and brother David, pre-deceased her. Buffy greatly enjoyed time with family, gardening, reading, walking, the Red Sox, and the Tuesday ladies’ group at church. She was a deeply devoted grandmother to her two grandsons and was so very proud of their accomplishments. Of note is the fact that Buffy mowed her own lawn until the age of 89! 

Visitation will be held at Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton, 57 Hayden Rowe St. on Sunday, November 24th from 1:30 to 3:00 followed by a celebration of Buffy’s life at 3:00.  Donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders, one of her most respected charities.

Please note: the clarinet heard in the video slide show was performed by Christopher Weigl, Buffy’s grandson, who passed away in 2012.