Losing any member of our Folk Family is difficult, but losing one of our founders is all but devastating. Wednesday, March 21, 2018, the Society lost one of its godmothers as Tossi Aaron passed peacefully in the morning. Tossi Aaron has been an active member of the Philadelphia Folksong Society since its inception: a founder of the Society and our Philadelphia Folk Festival, a performer at countless PFS events and festivals, an instructor of music and dance, but more than anything Tossi was a folk historian. Tossi had forgotten more folk tunes than most of us will be able to learn in a lifetime. She shared her vast folk knowledge with Philadelphia Folksong Society members for decades through her column in the Philadelphia Folksong Society’s Tune Up newsletter, The Attic. Her warmth and intellect will remain unmatched and be missed by all who knew her, heard her songs, or read her words. Tossi was, and always will be, a large part of our Folk family.
As Tossi sang in her 1960 recording of “I Know You Rider”
I know you, rider, gonna miss me when I’m gone
The sun will shine in my back door someday
March winds will blow all my troubles away
Please join the Philadelphia Folksong Society in celebrating Tossi. Here are the details for the service and shiva on Sunday, March 25th:
At 11am, there will be a short graveside service at Roosevelt Memorial Park (2701 Old Lincoln Hwy, Trevose, PA 19053) followed by a light lunch.
At 1:30pm, services will be at the Synagogue at Abramson Center for Jewish Life (1425 Horsham Rd, North Wales, PA 19454)
From 3pm – 6pm, Shiva will take place in a community room at Abramson with some food.
If you know you will be coming to Abramson, please RSVP to rachel.roca1@gmail.com