Rosanna J Gelberg

GELBERG, ROSANNA JEAN COHEN, beloved Mom, Grammie and friend. August 3, 1934 ~ April 3, 2018 Born in Detroit, MI, graduated from Central High School before moving to Miami, FL. She attended University of Miami and began her career as traffic manager for WTVJ. There she met and married Bob Gelberg, a station cameraman (who went on to become quite a good photographer!) and left her career in broadcasting after marriage, to start her family. Always an original independent woman, she was the matriarch of our small tight knit family. She had many loves in her life but the two she held most dear were her daughters Robin Gelberg and Joanne Gelberg-Justiz who were closely followed by her grandchildren Taylor Rose Ellsworth, Jack Ellsworth, Hannah Justiz and Michael "Mac" Justiz. Her life was full with friends, travel, gardening and music. Rosanna tended her botanical wonderland for nearly 40 years, until the very last day she could, knowing that what she had built and nurtured for all those years would live on just like her. She was an inspiration to all those around her, especially her grandchildren, who she taught to explore the world and started them off young with a zest for travel. She lived life to the fullest, whether it was flying to Detroit, Canada or Spain for a Jazz festival or making a beautiful Passover Seder for her family and friends. You could call her anytime and know she would listen intently; offer the most sound advice, and leave you feeling supported, comforted, and held tightly in her warm embrace. A most stylish woman, she was always dressed to the nines, never without her lipstick. She was also an icon of strength, love, confidence, worldliness, feminism, motherhood and gifted with a sharp engaging wit. She loved her son-in-law, Michael Justiz, granddaughter-in-law, Lauren Brown-Ellsworth, and Robin's partner, Andre Cholmondeley, with immense affection and tenderness. Rosanna adored her friends and we, the family, would like to acknowledge one friend in particular who was like a sister to her and a rock for all of us during the last months of her beautiful life Toni Keel, thank you for decades of love and sisterhood. Rosanna Cohen Gelberg left this physical world to a place where the Jazz was calling her name and like always, she would arrive prompt and in style. A celebration of her life will be held Sunday, April 8th at 11AM at Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapel at Mount Nebo (Kendall). 5900 SW 77th Terrace, South Miami.