She was born on June 26th in the Bronx, New York, the daughter of immigrants, Leah and Robert. She was especially proud of her Sephardic heritage that dates back through her father’s lineage.
Rosalie was a 1952 graduate of the City College of New York, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Shortly after college, in her early 20’s, Rosalie—a very independent woman, especially for her time—took a solo trip cross country, meeting up with friends and relatives along the way. She went on to teach elementary school within the New York City School System and was regularly commended for her excellent teaching skills.
She married Alan Brill in 1954, also from the Bronx, and they moved to Vermont in 1960 because of his work with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. The couple enjoyed many years of travel, from Mexico to Israel, and eventually split their time between their home in Vermont and condo in Florida.
Rosalie loved beautiful things, as attested to by her curated collection of cruets which she kept with her until the end. She was meticulous about keeping track of everyone’s birthday in her continuously expanding family and ended every conversation with her special “benediction,” wishing them a life of happiness and pursuing the things they enjoy.
A dedicated volunteer, she spent 30 years with Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. She was a lifetime member of Hadassah, served on the Scholarship Committee of the American Association of University Women, and was a board member of the Palm Beach Chapter of the American Cancer Society, among other civic activities.
She is survived by her children, Eileen Brill Wagner, and her husband Michael; Robert Brill, and his wife Marla; Betsy Brill Steckelman, and her husband Adam; grandchildren Leah Wagner and her husband Nick Schlosstein; Briana Drimmer, and her husband Joseph; Simone Wagner, and her husband Will Sprecher; Rachael Brill, and her husband Rabbi Jeff Dreifus; Lauren Brill; Samuel and Jack Steckelman; and great grandchildren Ayla Schlosstein, Aidan Sprecher, Jocelyn Drimmer, and Shoshana and Aviv Dreifus.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, at 11 a.m. at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Pine Brook Jewish Center in Montville, NJ and Ohavi Zedek Synagogue in Burlington, VT.
