Phyllis Rock

She was born in Scranton, PA, the only child of Belle and Nathan Rosenstein, and moved to Akron, OH as a teenager, where she was adopted by her stepfather, Jacob Luckey.

Of all her accomplishments, Phyllis was proudest of her large family. She was the beloved wife of the late Richard Rock; devoted mother of Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox (Dr. Everett Fox) of MA; the late Dr. Charles (Paula Bottecelli) Koller of TX; Dr. Clifford Noah Koller (Dr. Leah Bauer) of MI; Conrad (Iris) Koller of FL; and Cindy Koller-Kass (Howard Kass) of OH; loving grandmother of 19: Aaron (Susan), Akiva (Annie), Alexander (Courtney), Andrew, Arielle, David, Ezra, Jared, Jonathan, Josh (Megan), Leah, Leora, Micah, Paul, Rachel, Rachel (Marc), Sarah, Shaina, and William; and proud great-grandmother of six: Benjamin, Carmen, Hadas, Judah, Nathan, and Phineas.

Phyllis was an elegant woman, who never felt fully dressed until she was wearing her lipstick and earrings, whether she intended to leave the house or not. She and Richard often looked like a distinctive set; Richard would match his clothes to hers each morning for the 44 years they were married.

With Richard, she traveled to the births and the b’nai mitzvot of each of her grandchildren in a large yellow motorhome. She and Richard also used the motorhome to travel extensively, including annual trips with the grandchildren to Cedar Point. She was an excellent cook, and her specialties included gravlox, brisket, potato kugel, and honey cake. She had a special fondness for Shabbat, and lit candles with her family every Friday night.

Phyllis obtained a B.A. in education from the University of Akron while she raised her children. She taught sixth grade in Akron. Later in life, she and Richard owned a Clark gas station in Woodmere and a Dairy Queen across from Cleveland State University. She loved to dance and volunteered to teach dancing to her children’s classmates. At 91, she danced at the wedding of her grandson and did not stop smiling.

Phyllis was quick-witted and clever, and liked to take care of people. She was sweet, feisty, determined, and sassy, and made friends wherever she went. She enjoyed nature and going on walks. In recent years, she took up yoga and adult coloring, and had a real talent both for blending colors and leaving white space.

Funeral services will be held at BERKOWITZ-KUMIN-BOOKATZ MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 1985 S. TAYLOR RD., CLEVELAND HTS. on Friday, April 20 at 1 p.m.

Internment will be at Bet Olam Cemetery (Park Synagogue section).

Shiva will be at her late residence FOLLOWING THE FUNERAL ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY EVENING FROM 8:15-9:30, SUNDAY FROM 1-9 PM AND MONDAY FROM 1-7 PM.

Donations in Phyllis’s memory may be made to the Solon Senior Center or to the Bikur Cholim Society.

To view this service at 1 PM Friday please navigate to www.bitly.com/smallchapel