by Arlene Macpherson
Published in September 2004
How sad it was to read the report in the Record of the death of Rose Uhrig on August 16th. Rose worked for The Working Centre and St. John’s Kitchen for about ten years and will be remembered by many volunteers, patrons and co-workers.
When Joe and Stephanie worked toward opening St. John’s Kitchen, it seemed natural to hire Rose to help them with the task. Rose, who had worked at the Chicopee Unemployed Workers’ Centre, was an experienced cook and had organizational and creative skills. Joe, Stephanie and Rose, with the help of volunteers from local churches gathered food and equipment, and opened the doors to St. John’s Kitchen in January 1985. They were backed by the Downtown Core Area Ministry Committee and concerned citizens. The sixty people who came to that first noontime meal were soon joined by many others as word spread, and it was not long before over two hundred meals were being prepared and served each weekday. Additional staff was hired and more volunteers offered help as the work of preparing large quantities of food and maintaining the premises at St. John’s Church increased.
Rose was a hard worker, a meticulous housekeeper and a resourceful cook. She had a big heart. She continued the work of planning and preparing food, training and guiding volunteers for another seven years, until health problems caused her to take early retirement in 1992. She continued to be in touch with volunteers with whom she had worked for many years.
Rose’s death, at age 60, came as a shock and seemed much too soon. Rose will always be a vital part of the history of St. John’s Kitchen.We extend sincerest sympathy to her family in this loss.
