Rosalyn Brooker

Rosalyn (nee Geller) Brooker died peacefully on August 6, 2023. She was predeceased by her loving husband Merrill S. Brooker. She is survived by daughters Karen Brooker (Collette Johns), Robin DeLamatre (John), Bobbi Sundman (Bruce), and son Martin Brooker; cherished grandmother to Jackie DeLamatre Cooper (Ben), Mariel Aken (Jason), Caroline Sundman, Mike Kravitz, and Jaime Kravitz; great grandchildren Edie and Sunny Cooper and Annie, Naomi, Jacob Aken; Colton and Afton Brown, and Madyson Johns. She is predeceased by her sisters Mae Stark (Mort) and Betty Nesbit (Daniel), and brother Larry Geller (Rose).

Roz was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 19, 1926, to Yetta and Emanuel Geller, who she often described as “lovebirds”. Roz attended and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and Miami University and was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority. She was employed by Cleveland Cotton Products until her marriage in 1948 to Merrill, the love of her life. She enjoyed working at her husband’s store, Robin Leader Drug, on the holidays so that the employees could have the day off.

Roz was a member of many organizations including Friends for Life, B’nai Brith, ORT, NCJW, Meals on Wheels, JAFCO (Jewish Adopted and Foster Care Organization) and Women’s Tennis League of Inverrary, and was a volunteer at Mt. Sinai Hospital. Beginning in 1957, she became a member and continued to be a member of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple for 66 years. Roz and Merrill participated in the opening of R.H.Myers Apartments, and her in-laws were among the first residents.

Roz enjoyed so many things: music, theater, tennis, golf, bowling, mah-jongg, writing poetry, and most importantly playing cards. She had a love for chocolate and ice cream, and if she had a choice, she would have ice cream for dinner and chocolate for dessert. She loved her dogs -- Blackie, Heidi, Sir James ‘Jamie’, Charlie I and Charlie 2, and Lexie who were always by her side --and even after she could no longer have her own dog, she talked often about how much she wished she still could. Roz was also a fashionista. She had beautiful taste in clothing, enjoyed shopping, and was always seen “dressed to the 9’s”. Her clothes and jewelry were always carefully chosen and until her last days, she dressed in her signature colorful jackets, always accessorized with jewelry and make-up.

Roz enjoyed traveling with her husband, Merrill, and spoke often of her memorable trip to Israel where they stayed with their son Martin on a kibbutz. She also enjoyed cruising and participated in all the social activities onboard.

After 33 years of marriage, Merrill passed away when he was only 56. Because Merrill was her only true love, Roz chose to never remarry. She did, however, enjoy having a man in her life and was fortunate to have enjoyed the companionship of Irv Podell, Alex Bleier, Nat Levy, and Joe Braun over the next 34 years.

Roz's closest friend was her sister, Betty. They were only 14 months apart and inseparable throughout their lives. After living in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, for 39 years, Roz, along with Betty, moved back to Cleveland to R.H. Myers where once again they did everything together-- cards, bingo, high tea, dinner, and entertainment.

Roz was a fount of unconditional love. Every member of the family could expect a phone call on their birthday with Roz ready to sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ tune with her special music box. They could also expect that every prolonged goodbye would end with her family saying, “we love you” and Roz responding, “I love you more!”

Services will be held at Mayfield Mausoleum, 2749 Mayfield Rd, on Monday, August 14, at 11am. The family invites friends and family to join them in the Social Room at 2202 Acacia Park Drive, Building II, in Lyndhurst following the service and until 8pm on Monday, and 2-4pm and 6-8pm on Tuesday. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Brenda Dent and her amazing aides who provided compassionate care, love and support, and to the staff at Maltz Hospice, who compassionately guided her through her final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory are greatly appreciated to Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple (Women of Fairmount Temple, 23737 Fairmount Blvd, Beachwood, 44122), Menorah Park Foundation (27100 Cedar Rd, Beachwood, Ohio, 44122), or the charity of your choice.