Sherry Rothberg

Sherry was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Doris and Franklin Raynes, both of whom preceded her in death. She spent her childhood in North Bergen, New Jersey, where her lifelong love of reading first took root. She was the oldest of three children and is survived by her beloved daughter, Amy and her husband, Harold; her cherished grandson, Kyler; and her sister, Ellen Berman. She was predeceased by her brother, Arthur Raynes, earlier this year.

Sherry attended Rider University, where she earned her bachelor's degree. She later pursued graduate studies in library science, preparing for the profession that became her calling.

Sherry devoted much of her career to serving her community as a librarian at Finkelstein Memorial Library while also working part-time at the Nanuet Public Library. She believed libraries were places where curiosity could flourish and imaginations could grow. One of her greatest joys was reading aloud during children's story time, bringing books to life with warmth and enthusiasm. She also loved leading arts and crafts activities, creating welcoming spaces where children could learn, create, and discover. For many families, neighbors, and Amy’s classmates, she became a familiar and trusted presence whose kindness helped inspire a lifelong love of reading.

Her colleagues at the libraries were more than coworkers; they became an extended family. Sherry valued those relationships deeply, and the friendships she built through her work remained some of the most meaningful connections in her life. She was known as a dedicated librarian, a dependable colleague, and someone whose quiet kindness left a lasting impression on those who worked alongside her.

Those who knew Sherry remember her as thoughtful, kind, and remarkably attentive to others. She possessed an uncanny ability to remember birthdays, making family and friends feel seen and remembered year after year. Her kindness was often expressed through these quiet gestures rather than grand words.

Above all else, Sherry's greatest loves were her daughter, Amy, and her work. Amy was the center of her world, and Sherry worked tirelessly throughout her life to provide for her. The pride she felt in being Amy's mother was evident to everyone who knew her. She also found deep fulfillment in her work as a librarian, where she shared her love of books with generations of children and families. Outside of work, she had a deep enjoyment of collecting Barbie’s and watching soap operas.

In 2004, she suffered multiple strokes that dramatically changed her life. Yet even as she faced years of disability, she met each challenge with determination, dignity, and resilience.

In her later years, Sherry made her home at The Paramount at Somers Rehabilitation & Nursing Center. There, she became a beloved member of the community. She especially enjoyed bingo, social activities, and arts and crafts. Visiting Sherry was rarely a simple matter, as she was often off on one of her daily adventures throughout the facility, giving family members a fun adventure as they searched the halls to find her. From afar, her family and friends enjoyed communicating with her on her tablet via Facebook. She formed genuine friendships with residents and staff alike and was deeply appreciative of the care she received. In return, she earned the affection and admiration of those who knew her, becoming one of the community's most familiar and well-loved residents.

Sherry's legacy lives on in the countless children whose imaginations she helped spark, in the patrons and colleagues whose lives she quietly enriched, in the family and friends who always knew they would be remembered on their birthdays, and most of all in Amy and her beloved grandson, Kyler, who were the enduring joys of her life. Through her love of books, her devotion to family, her quiet acts of kindness, and her remarkable resilience, Sherry leaves behind a life that made the world gentler, wiser, and more compassionate.

May her memory be a blessing.

Graveside services will be held at Mt. Moriah Cemetery, 685 Fairview Ave, Fairview, NJ 07022, on July 28, 2026, at 11:00 am.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hellman Memorial Chapels, 15 State Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977 (845) 356-8600 Jewish Funeral Directors