Flora Klein, a native of Hungary, was 19 when American troops liberated the Mauthausen camp on May 5, 1945. "Rest in peace my dear Flora," Tweed wrote in a social media post. Both my parents are immigrants," Sophie Simmons said. Gene and Stanley together spoke earlier this year, about Flóra's involvement in Kiss's early days, keeping him away from drug and alcohol abuse. The news was announced today by Simmons’ wife, Shannon … Gene has often spoken lovingly over the years about his mother's influence on his life. © 2020 Canoe.com, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. BLABBERMOUTH.NET Simmons also had to fight back tears when he saw his grandmother’s name on the documents. Klein’s death emerged on the same day it was revealed that Simmons had been named in a sexual misconduct lawsuit, amid allegations suggesting he groped a dishwasher at the opening of his Rock & Brews restaurant back in 2016. In the interview, Bild presented Simmons, 70, with approximately 100 historical papers about his mother’s life that he had never seen. JNS.org – Rock legend and KISS frontman Gene Simmons got teary-eyed when reading over historical documents about his late Jewish mother’s experiences in the Holocaust and liberation from the Mauthausen concentration camp during a recent interview with Bild. “When Jews are advised to no longer wear the kippah on the streets. “That was the reason for why she was chosen. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. Rest in peace my dear Flora. Gene's KISS partner and bandmate Paul Stanley posted a touching tribute to Florence on Twitter, writing: "Gene's mother, Florence Lubowski, has passed away. 21 and worked in the fields, gathering potatoes outside the camp. "When we arrived in America, neither of us could speak a word of English. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Photo: Wikimedia Commons. I lost my Mother. “It can happen again and again. Kiss frontman Gene Simmons said his mother almost never spoke about her Holocaust ordeal, including time in Nazi camps. My moral compass. To comment on a “She was strong,” Simmons told Bild in an interview published on May 3 as he read the documents. "The best grandma and mother in law I could ask for. get the best of the algemeiner straight to your inbox! Today, KISS bassist Gene Simmons’ mother Flóra “Florence” Klein dies at 92. She asked several girls, ‘Do you speak German?’ The girls raised their hands and said yes. Gene Simmons revisits late mother's concentration camp liberation on 75th anniversary Back to video Gene’s mother, Flora Klein, was the only member of her family to survive at … I wore old civilian clothes with a white oil (paint) cross painted on the back, in a camp surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by the SS.”. reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. I wouldn't be that forgiving if I had lived her life. CONTACT, TESLA's FRANK HANNON On EDDIE VAN HALEN: 'I Had Never Heard A Guitar Player Play With Such Aggressive Conviction', Watch BLACK SABBATH Drummer BILL WARD Read Halloween Poem 'It's Nearly Time', ARCHITECTS Announce 'For Those That Wish To Exist' Album, MASTODON's TROY SANDERS: Playing With THIN LIZZY Was 'One Of The Most Special Moments Of My Entire Life', ALDO NOVA Releases New Single 'Hey Ladi Dadi'. She was a button and buttonhole worker, handling 1000 coats a day. Gene Simmons revisits late mother's concentration camp liberation on 75th anniversary. Gene Simmons poses for a photo at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in downtown Toronto on Sept. 14, 2018. tap here to see other videos from our team. Do this every day! Not only Jewish people. He recalled his mother telling him about the last interaction she had with her mother before the elder woman was sent to the gas chambers. A post shared by Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) on Dec 6, 2018 at 11:11am PST, Rest in peace my dear Flora. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of View this post on Instagram. Simmons claims his mother survived the camp because she knew how to cut hair. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. The things that happened back then. She survived living in … Gene's band mate, Kiss front man Paul Stanley, added his own tribute. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. They cannot believe it. “I lost my Mother. Do this every day!”. She and her brother, Larry Klein, were the only members of the family to survive the Holocaust. My Mother, Flora Klein passed away at 93 years of age. Despite the tragedy, she is a positive person who sees the goodness in people's hearts. R.I.P. Earlier this year, Gene told The Sydney Morning Herald: "My 92-year-old mother, Flora Klein, is my hero. “She fought all of this on her own.”, He also found his grandmother’s name among the documents. ", Rest in Peace Flora pic.twitter.com/Exhj9JUQIQ, Rest in peace my dear Flora. And I would urge all of you, to run over, put your arms around your mother, kiss her and tell her how much you love her. … As long as you talk about things, there is a chance,” Simmons was reported as saying after the interview. KISS icon Gene Simmons shared a recent photo on his verified page and wrote a heart-wrenching message to his deceased mother, Flóra Klein.. ☂, Florida to investigate all COVID-19 deaths after questions about ‘integrity’ of data, Kelly: Dolphins players wonder why QB change was made now | Commentary, Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick left heartbroken after demotion to Tua Tagovailoa, but insists he’ll help rookie, Florida residents receive ‘Vote for Trump or we will come after you’ emails, purportedly from Proud Boys, ‘We feel like he’s ready’: Tua Tagovailoa ready to take next step in his career as Dolphins starting QB job, Biden takes commanding 51-point lead over Trump among Florida Jewish voters, new poll shows, Sun Sentinel endorsements for Nov. 3 election — all in one place, Man was robbed of $9,000 by woman he met in casino, cops say, X's and Omar: Is change at QB the right move for Dolphins? KISS bassist Gene Simmons' mother, Flóra Klein, has died at age 92.. Klein's passing was first confirmed by Simmons' wife, Shannon Tweed Simmons. Rock veteran Gene Simmons has been left “heartbroken” by the death of his mum. It was yesterday. Florence's passing was confirmed by Simmons's wife, Shannon Tweed Simmons, who wrote on her Facebook page: "Rest in peace my dear Flora. Klein's passing was first confirmed by Simmons' wife, Shannon Tweed Simmons. Millions and millions … ,” he said. Today. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. “The best mother in the world,” he wrote alongside a picture of himself as a child with his beloved parent. My mentor. I will miss her laugh and smile.”, Rest in Peace Flora pic.twitter.com/Exhj9JUQIQ. “She was strong,” he says. Gene Simmons of Kiss performs at Staples Center in Los Angeles on March 4, 2020. 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She died at 93 in the United States. (JTA) Kiss frontman Gene Simmons said his mother almost never spoke about her Holocaust ordeal, including time in Nazi camps. "Let us all say a prayer for her, Gene and his family. “She fought all of this on her own… If somebody says that all of this was in the past — that’s not true. The best grandma and mother in law I could ask for. Gene Simmons 'heartbroken' by mother's death Back to video “The best mother in the world,” he wrote alongside a picture of himself as a child with his beloved parent. His father, Ferenc "Feri" Yehiel Witz, was a carpenter. His wife, Shannon Tweed, was born in Canada. In 1949, Klein moved to Israel and then to the U.S. when her son, real name Chaim Witz, was eight. By MARCY OSTER/JTA . His mother married a carpenter, Jechiel Weitz, in 1946 and a year later they immigrated to Israel. No, that's never gonna happen. As long as you talk about things, there is a chance. Stanley continued, noting that he "admired and loved" Flóra, a Holocaust survivor and single mother, who left Israel for Queens, New York, in the 1950s in search of a better life. In her statement to the former Restitution Office in Koblenz, Klein wrote: “In November 1944, I was brought to the Ravensbruck concentration camp. "My father was her one true love. “My Mother will always be in my thoughts and in my heart. "Beyond her fierce love and pride in her only child, she was his inspiration to live up to being worthy of the sacrifices she made in a very difficult and, at times, horrific life.". I call up and I say, 'Can I speak to Gene?' My mentor. Gene Simmons 'heartbroken' by mother's death. No pain. She was sent to a Nazi concentration camp at the age of 14 and survived, but all the members of her family were wiped out — she saw her mother walk into a gas chamber. The best grandma and mother in law I could ask for. © 2020 Canoe.com, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Gene Simmons interview: “My mother saw her mother walk into the gas chambers” Gene Simmons from KISS on his family history, why he doesn't need friends - and his violent plans as Earth's benevolent dictator. She made half a penny for every button sewed. and she says, 'The king is on the throne.' The rocker was also given files of the former Restitution Office in Koblenz that showed that Klein (who later married and took the surname Witz) applied for financial compensation for the suffering she experienced during the Holocaust. And Forever. The best grandma and mother in law I could ask for. He was who he was to the end.". "She raised me as a single mother in Israel — I was an only child. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. My Mother will always be in my thoughts and in my heart. Flóra "Florence" Klein, the mother of KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons, has died at the age of 93. ", Gene himself added that Flóra was "The best mother in the world.". Flóra Klein, mother to KISS co-founder Gene Simmons, has passed away at the age of 92. No illness. …I miss you every day, I think about you every day and I will never forget you.. Love, your son! Bild am Sonntag presented the Israel-born rock star with 100 pages of documents about his mother’s ordeal, including her impact statement, to mark the 75th anniversary of her liberation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She died in 2018, aged 93. Reading the documents in an article to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation, Simmons pointed out his grandmother’s name and said, “My mother told me that they drove the old people into the gas chambers first. © 2020 Blabbermouth.net This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Arab Video Blogger Blasts Al Jazeera for Spreading ‘Fake News’ About Him and Israel, Paris Swastika Vandal Faces Criminal Charges — but Antisemitism Not Among Them, Zoom Urged to Deplatform Planned University of Hawaii Event Featuring Notorious Palestinian Terrorist, Trump Will Win and God Will Protect Israel From ‘Hoard,’ Says Veteran Televangelist Pat Robertson, France Bans Pro-Hamas ‘Sheikh Yassin Collective’ Implicated in Beheading of Paris School Teacher.