Ida Cohen (1867–1970), of Tamworth, died peacefully on Saturday 24 April 1970 at St Elmo Private Hospital, Tamworth, NSW. She was 102. At the funeral, which took place at Tamworth cemetery, Rabbi Harkaway, of Parramatta, emphasises her long life of devoted service to her family, the community and mankind. In particular she rendered untiring efforts on behalf of the Red Cross for which she received due recognition in gaining the well deserved honour of the M.B.E.
Ida Cohen was born in Tamworth on 27 August 1867. She was the eldest daughter of Nathan Cohen (1842–1910) by his first wife, Esther, the daughter of Solomon Solomon. Nathan Cohen’s family was remarkable and gifted, and many of the qualities of its vigour, enterprise and integrity were vested in Ida Cohen,. Her great-grand-father, Emanuel Hyam Cohen, was the founder of the Jewish community in Brighton, England, and of his sons may be noted Levy Emanuel Cohen (1796–1840) was a journalist and newspaper proprietor of controversial views. Levy Cohen’s younger brother, Abraham Cohen (1812–74) came to Australia about 1836 where he married [Sophia Cohen] and settled to produce a large family. Apart from Nathan Cohen, who was an important personality in Tamworth and was twice Mayor of the town, the family included the Hon. Henry Emanuel Cohen (1840–1912), a prominent lawyer and politician, Fanny Cohen (1839–1912) who married Sir Benjamin Benjamin, of Melbourne, and Caroline Cohen (1844–1923) who married another journalist and newspaper proprietor, Solomon Joseph.
Ida Cohen lived the whole of her long life-span in Tamworth and witnessed the unfolding of the story of Tamworth Jewry which is typical of so many communities of Australian country towns. In the days of development and pioneering Jewish enterprise contributed much to the area and a small but vigorous communal life existed. Over the years the Jewish population drifted away, mainly to the State capitals and became absorbed by intermarriage and assimilation. Mrs Cohen was one of the last remaining Jewish residents in Tamworth. Apart from her work for the Red Cross she supported many causes both Jewish and non-Jewish and was a member of the Australian Jewish Historical Society.
In 1901 she married her first cousin Victor Cohen (son of George Cohen [the twin of Henry Emanuel]) [and Elizabeth (née Davis)], and they had three sons: George, Nathan (d.1962) and Alan.
[Reference: “Obituary: Ida Cohen, m.b.e.” AJHS, Vol. 6, Pt 8, July 1970, p.552.]
