TENESY, ROSE L. GERAK (19 June 1890-16 Aug. 1992), who claimed to have voted in every election since WOMEN gained the franchise in 1920, was the first woman ward leader for the CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY (1920-40).
As state committeewoman from the 21st District, she helped form the Federated Democratic Women of Ohio (1932), presided over the organization for 18 years and was honored by it in February 1992 for her continuous service.
Tenesy was born in Cleveland, Ohio to John and Julia Matowitz Gerak.
Her father, a manager of the Landisman-Hersheimer factory, did not believe in educating women and forced Tenesy to quit school and work in the factory after the third grade.
Rose married George S. Tenesy (d. 1948) on 3 July 1907 and managed a store to help him through law school. He later became a Cleveland municipal court judge. The couple lived in Cleveland with their son, George W. Tenesy ran unsuccessfully for state representative in 1948 and again in 1950. Her campaign platform included the elimination of sales tax. In other activities, she was district leader of the AMERICAN RED CROSS, CLEVELAND CHAPTER, worked with the Community Fund, served as president of the Women's Slovak Club for 27 years, and belonged to FIRST CATHOLIC SLOVAK UNION OF THE USA AND CANADA and St. Benedict Catholic Church, Cleveland. She helped raise the funds to build the VILLA SANCTA ANNA HOME FOR THE AGED, where she died.
She is buried in CALVARY CEMETERY, Cleveland, Ohio.
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Name: Gerak, Julia
Date: Aug 14 1930
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #029.
Notes: Gerak: Julia, beloved wife of John J., mother of Mrs. Rose L. Tenesy, Mrs. Anna Buschow, Mrs. Irene B. Beznoska, Frank and George Gerak, and grandmother; sister of Mrs. Anna Baroico, Inspector George J. Matowitz, Mrs. Irene Kubik, James, John, Margaret and Frank Matowitz, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1930.
Funeral Saturday, Aug. 16, from residence, 3569 E. 110th Street, at 8:30 a. m. Services from Nativity B. V. M. Church at 9 a. m.
Interment at Calvary Cemetery. St. Louis papers please copy.
Name: Gerak, John
Date: Jan 31 1944
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #029.
Notes: Gerak: John, beloved husband of Lena (nee Matowitz), father of Rose Tenesy, Anna Tennant, Frank T., Irene Beznoska, and George; stepfather of Mary Quade, Lena Savarda, Henry, Carl, Stephen, John and George Matowitz; grandfather and great - grandfather; brother of Henry, Mary McGinnis, and Bertha Girard; late residence, 3716 W. 46th pl.
Friends may call at Schuster's Funeral Home, 5300 Denison ave. Funeral Tuesday, Feb. 1, St. Boniface Church at 9:30 a.m.
Name: Gerak, Lena
Date: Aug 7 1961
Source: Plain Dealer; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #111.
Notes: (Nee Petrak), beloved wife of the late John, dear mother of Henry Matowitz, Mary Quade. Stephen Matowitz, Teen Savarda, John Matowitz, George Matowitz and the late Carl Matowitz; grandmother and great-grandmother, late residence, 4721 Ardmore Ave.
Friends may call at the Schuster Parma Funeral Home, 5904 Ridge Rd., Monday. Funeral Tuesday. Aug. 8, at St. Charles Church at 9:30 a. m. Interment Calvary Cemetery.
Name: Gerak, Mrs. John
Date: Aug 8 1961
Source: Plain Dealer; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #111.
Notes: Mrs. John Gerak died Saturday in the home of her son. John Matowitz, 4721 Ardmore Avenue S. W. She was 88. Her first husband, the late Carl Matowitz, was a brother of the late former Police Chiel George Matowitz, the late James Matowitz and Frank Matowitz, a retired Cleveland fireman. Mrs. Gerak's second husband, John, died many years ago.
Surviving are four sons, Henry, Stephen, John and George Matowitz, and two daughters, Mrs. Mary Quade and Mrs. Teen Savarda.
Services will be at 9:30 this morning in St. Charles Catholic Church, 7107 Wilber Avenue, Parma, Ohio.
Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery
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Name: Beznoska, Irene B.
Date: Aug 19 1968
Source: Cleveland Press; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #093.
Notes: Beznoska. Irene B. Beznoska (nee Gerak), of 3410 E. 110th St., beloved wife of William L. Sr., dear mother of William Jr., Evelyn W. Porter, and grandmother of Wendy Ann Beanard, sister of Rose Tenesy, Anna Buschow, George J. Gerak, and the late Frank T. Gerak.
Family will receive friends at The Hopko Funeral Home, 3601 E. 93d St. (south of Union Ave). where services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 2 P. M. Brooklyn Hts. Mausoleum. Arrangements by S. J. Kubu & Son Funeral Home,
Visitation Monday 2 To 5 And 7 To 10.
Cuyahoga County