Rosemary Helen Goodrich

The Life & Times of Rosemary Goodrich

Rosemary Helen Goodrich transitioned into her next path of adventure on November 26, 2024. 

Rosemary was born on Christmas Eve in 1930. She was a first generation American. Her parents were Louise Link, from Germany and Gottlieb Burger from Switzerland. Her parents met in citizenship class. 10 years later Louise and Gottlieb brought home her sister Elizabeth Sumrack.

Rosemary had a loving childhood in Detroit, Michigan. She was a natural athlete. She played softball and basketball, and loved swimming and skating. At one point she started to run with the “wrong crowd” until her real friends Joan and Shirley put her on back on the right path. Joan and Shirley remained her friends into adulthood. 

In 1953 she met her good-looking Marine, Glenn Goodrich. Soon after they were married. Their bond continued for the next over the next 63 years until Glenn’s passing. 

Over the next 5 years their family grew and now they had 3 children, Gretchen Giles, Gilda Horner and Karl Goodrich. The family resided in St. Clair Shores until August of 1965, when they moved to their dream home “The Farm” in Brockway Michigan. Once they moved here, they never wanted to leave. They created their little homestead farm on an old apple orchard. They raised goats, chickens, and geese and had several bee hives. Rosemary gladly transitioned from a “city girl”. She traded her fancy dresses with the matching hat, gloves and shoes, for jeans, a T-shirt and her hair tied back in a babushka. (kerchief). Rosemary learned to turn butter and make goat’s milk cheese. 

Rosemary worked outside of the home to help support the family in a time when many women did not work. She had a strong work ethic from her parents, and she wanted to instill the same belief in her children. When she lived in St. Clair Shores she worked for Roy O’Brien - a car dealership. She participated in the showcase introduction of the Ford Mustang. 

When she moved to Brockway she started to work in manufacturing, sewing seatbelts, packing pickles and running a stamping press. She liked the work and the socialization of manufacturing. Rosemary was never a traditional woman. 

Rosemary and Glenn shared their love of pets including a horse named Valentine, and a rooster named Stormy and more cats than you could count. The dogs were their favorites, Fritz, Machen, Beauty and finally Sunny. 

In 1976 Rosemary became “Grandma Rosie” over the next 11 years she was blessed with 6 grandchildren, Travis Fahley, Robyn Serra, Eddie Fahley, Bailey Horner, Erica Sturgeon, and Korey Goodrich. Over the years there were joyful weddings, and the family grew to include Denise Wojcik, Ken Giles, Cadi Potter, Matt Serra, Taylor Smith and Dan Sturgeon. 

 In 2000 she became a great grandma over the next 24 years, the number grew to 8. Travis and Cadi Fahley had Zackary & Jared, Robyn and Matt Serra had Stella and Evelyn, Eddie and Taylor Fahley’s family now includes Colton, Austin and Mason. Erica and Dan Sturgon brought their daughter Gwendolyn home to grow up at the “The Farm”.

Rosemary was the keeper of memories. She was passionate about genealogy. Her research resulted in several bookcases of pictures and documents of the family’s history. She was most proud of the research that resulted in Glenn being named a “Son of the American Revolution”. She frequently started up conversations to offered research assistance for friends and other relatives. 

Rosemary’s memory collection included many things, toys, class room drawings, report cards, books, clothing, jewelry, pictures….. She protected her collection with passion. Often when she pulled out items that we had long forgotten about their memories would be once again revealed.

In 2022 Rosemary moved to the Oaks of Woodfield in Grand Blanc. Here she made many friends and great memories. In this place she knew she was loved. Staff would go out of their way to meet some of her odd request and listen to her ideas on how to make things “better”. She sat at the popular girl table and had crushes on many of men that she met here. She enjoyed spending sunny days on the patio and looked forward to happy hour each week with her 2 glasses of wine. Music was by far her favorite thing. She loved moving to the rhythm of live music. Others around her needed to take care to watch their feet as her chair swayed back and forth to the melody. 

While she lived in Grand Blanc, she bonded with those that provided her with special services. Brandi gave Rosemary her first pedicure at 92. The staff at LeRouge Salon went out of their way to help her navigate her wheelchair and make the transition to chairs in the spa area. At the lunch table she showed off her hair cut, polished fingernails and picture of her handsome physical therapist Jason from Advanced Physical Therapy.

Jason’s hard work with Rosemary allowed her to transition from her wheelchair into the car so she was able to go out on outings and adventures, visit friends and families, have lunch at Cranberries, a tall glass of Black Rock Ale at Aubrys, ice cream at Lippy’s and shopping trips to Frankenmuth.

Rosemary’s smile, jokes and determined personality will be missed. Now it is our job to be the keeper of her memories. 

Rosemary will be buried with Glenn at be at Great Lakes Cemetery in Holly Michigan in the spring, April 11, 2025. 

Arrangements are being handled by Sharp Funeral Home & Cremation Center 6063 Fenton Rd. Grand Blanc, Mi. 48507

Tributes may be shared on the obituaries page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.