Rosalia (Rosa Ruiza Leah) Gurovich, also known as Rosa Mäkinen (born 13 November 1902 in Vyborg, Grand Duchy of Finland - died 3 January 1966 in Kotka, Finland[1]) was a Finnish barber from Kotka, said to have been the inspiration for the song Kotkan ruusu (lit.
Rosalia married Lauri Mäkinen, a non-Jewish policeman from Vyborg, which brought shame to her family.
When Rosalia, while still underage herself, gave birth to her child Nora (Eleonora, 1920 - 1984), later known as a model and an actress, her mother was said to have committed suicide.
The couple later divorced, and Nora was raised by the parents of Gurovich's lover Eero Hirvimaa.
According to her granddaughter she suffered from alcoholism, and there were frequent parties in the back room involving wine and song.