Nira was born December 1937 in the town of Kiryat Haim. She was the eldest daughter of Ben-Zion and Zippora Komarov, and the sister of Yael, Motti and Shuki.
Nira’s mother was a homemaker and her father worked at the Dead Sea Works before following Pinhas Rutenberg’s request to help him establish the Haifa power plant. The family moved to Kibbutz Afikim in 1942.
When Nira graduated highschool, she worked for a few months in Kibbutz Kfar Aza that was established a few years earlier, assisted by Kibbutz Afikim. Upon arriving at Kfar Aza, Nira was partnered with Akiva Ronen to work in the fields. He drove the tractor while she sat in the back to monitor the seeding. At the end of their workday, Akiva invited Nira to his room. Love sparkled, and the rest was history…
After serving as a squad commander in the Nahal Brigade, Nira returned to Kfar Aza. On Tu B’Av, the Jewish Love day, in 1959, she married Akiva, the love of her life. The beautiful couple had four children, whom they gave unique names: Chen, Tslil, Nitzan, and Niv.
In Kfar Aza, Nira worked in the rose greenhouses, served as the dining room manager, managed accounts at the regional council of Sha’ar Ha’Negev, and finally worked in the accounting department at the Kafrit plant. She found satisfaction in her work at the plant and remained there until retiring.
Nira loved singing and was a member of the Kibbutz choir. Perhaps this is why she especially loved Passover and was part of the organizing team for the Seder for many years.
Nira loved flowers very much, both outdoors and in her private garden, which she tended devotedly until her last day. She was attentive and spent hours talking to Kibbutz members along the paths of the Kibbutz. She loved the Kibbutz lifestyle, Kfar Aza, and its members.
Over the years, her family expanded, and 12 grandchildren were born, bringing much joy to Nira and Akiva. Akiva died on January 25th, 2020, leaving Nira with no immediate family members in the Kibbutz. Although she often met with her family, the loneliness was hard for her.
Angie came from the Philippines in September 2023 to work as Nira’s companion in Kfar Aza, and ease her loneliness. Indeed, within a short period, the two struck up a close friendship.
On the morning of October 7th at 9:10 AM, Nira spoke with Nitzan and Chen (her daughters) when suddenly the sound of gunfire was heard nearby. 'I am dead,' Nira said quietly, in terror. Nitzan and Chen tried to calm her down, asking her to breathe and stay quiet, but a few seconds later the call was disconnected, and Nira could not be reached thereafter. Nira and Angie were murdered by lawless terrorists as they hid in their home's safe room, hugging. The announcement of their murders only reached the family two days later, on the afternoon of October 9th.
Nira was 86 years old at the time of her death.
We love and miss Nira. May her memory be a blessing