News obit: Roz Marlowe, French Broad Food Co-op ‘wise woman’

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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roz_marlowe_asheville_2015Rosalind “Roz” A. Marlowe, known as the food co-op “medicine women,” who treated her customers with equal doses of herbal remedies and love during her 30-year presence with the French Broad Food Co-op in Asheville, died Thursday. She was 76.

Roz touched countless lives, as the outpouring of reaction on the food co-op’s page on Facebook attests. Here’s the co-op post last week as she entered hospice:

To our wonderful Co-op community ~
Our beloved Roz, herbalist with us for 30+ years, has entered hospice. We ask that you join us in lifting your hearts and sending love and energy to a woman that has healed thousands of people in our community, spent her life supporting co-ops, and is an all around wonderful person, amazing mother, and a true friend. If you’d like to send her a card, please address it to the co-op and we’ll deliver it to her: 90 Biltmore Ave., Asheville NC 28801

Last year, the French Broad Food Co-op honored Roz for her dedication to the co-op and devotion to customers:

Everybody loves Roz. Dr. Roz, as her friends and co-workers affectionately call her, has been an incredible resource and asset for Asheville during her 29 years at the Co-op. Her customer service and knowledge of the Wellness Department, not to mention her straight talk, have been essential to countless numbers of people. When you’re talking to her, Roz is the kind of person who beams a light into your eyes that makes you feel loved and cared for. Her wit is unmatchable, her candor refreshing and her smile very comforting. To the staff she’s a mother figure, a good friend and a treasure trove of stories that everyone listens to attentively. Thanks, Roz, for all you do!

The OM Sanctuary also honored Roz last year:

OM Sanctuary is pleased to award Roz Marlowe, the very first OM Care award. For 29 years, Roz has managed the Health and Bodycare Department at the French Broad Food Co-op. Roz possesses a great wisdom of plant and nutritional medicines and has generously shared this knowledge with generations of Co-Op shoppers. She has provided clear-headed, knowledgeable, and helpful advice to countless individuals in their times of great need, when they or their loved ones were suffering from illness or ailments.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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3 Comments

  1. David October 23, 2015

    Woman

    Reply
  2. brian anderson October 5, 2015

    one of the finest people i have ever known.
    the world is at a loss

    Reply
  3. Melissa September 28, 2015

    I wish I had known her. Lovely remembrances!

    Reply

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