On December 17, 2022, Lynda Susan Lou Rosenberg died in Chicago, IL, of breast cancer. She was 75 years old.

Lynda is survived by her wife, Jacqueline O'Hara, Chicago, IL; her children David Rosenberg (deceased), and Kate Rosenberg, Highland Park, IL; non-biological son Keith Casper, Kenosha, WI; and grandchildren, Mitchell Rosenberg, Carpentersville, IL, and Kayla Tomes, Dallas, TX. Amazing friends Kathy C. (a.k.a. Dizzy Lamb), CJ, Diane, Eunice, Mike, Miriam, Sharon and her cousins Gary and Jim.

Lynda Rosenberg (Fales) was born in Midland, MI, on July 3, 1947. Lynda graduated from Midland Senior High School in 1968 and attended Delta College, where she graduated in 1971 with a degree in nursing.

Blessed with two sets of adoring grandparents, she spent many weekends with her Alma grandma and Midland grandma, her aunt Vivian's family, and her best friend, Mike. They taught her how to play cards, eat popcorn from greasy grocery bags, and took her to drive-ins to watch forbidden Elvis movies. She loved them, and they loved her, and that love stayed with her until her death.

Some of you may wonder how Lynda's middle name changed to Susan. Well, one of Lynda's patients could not remember her name, so the dying child called her Susan. My love enjoyed Susan so much that she unofficially changed her middle name.

At her father's insistence that she select a job suitable for a woman then, Lynda chose nursing and started attending school in Detroit, MI. Due to unforeseen circumstances, she later transferred to Delta College to graduate with an associate degree in nursing.

After graduation, Lynda started working full-time at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Go Blue! When Lynda had the chance to move with her friends Larry and Allen to Chicago, she jumped at the opportunity. Soon, Lynda found work at Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL., where she spent the next 20+ years working the night shift.

Later, Lynda transferred to Maryville Home-DCFS to work with developmentally delayed children. Then, Hospice of the North Shore, Highland Park, IL., and Horizon Home Care and Hospice, Chicago, IL., where she helped launch a pediatric hospice care unit in Chicago.

When a child died in her care, Lynda would find a pinecone to remember them by. She took care of many dying children, and, as a result, we have large baskets filled with pinecones throughout our home.

My wife loved folk music--Pete Seager, Joan Baez, Woody Gutherie, Holly Near, etc. When Lynda was in her early 20s, she and a friend would save their nursing money and book a ticket to New York City.

Lynda often reminisced about sitting on a green carpeted bar room floor in her pedal-pushers, listening to rising folk artists jam on their guitars and tambourines, and joining musical sing-alongs. Oh, what fun she had.

Other passions and hobbies included collecting rhinos, attending folk and bluegrass concerts, Isaac Hayes, motorcycles, convertibles, drinking beer, and traveling.

Growing up in Midland, MI., Lynda dreamed of joining the Peace Corps-immersing herself in the world's cultures, traditions, and people. Over Lynda's lifetime, she traveled to India, Africa, Central America, South America, Galapagos Islands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Siberia, Artic Circle, Great Britain, Europe, Canada, and throughout the United States (visiting 46 out of the 50 states and 7 out of the 10 Canadian providences and territories). 

My Lynda was a phenomenal travel companion. Once after trekking all day to a border town near Bangladesh, starving, we went to a cafe for dinner. After waiting more than 30 minutes for service, I saw Lynda's beautiful brown eyes suddenly flicker with excitement, joined with that killer smile; I immediately knew her brilliance was at work and that I better get ready.

For the next hour, Lynda entertained us with the death-defying feats of a straw high-diving off a cup of water and then gallantly saving other straws with floatation devices made from napkins. Lynda's calming nature, laughter, and humor were a gift to many of us.

Having a heart of an explorer, Lynda volunteered in India with the House of Mother Teresa, Calcutta, India, subsidizing the education of African children living north of Kenya, Africa, and volunteering as an after-school mentor/tutor and a 12 Step teen mentor in Chicago, IL.

"We shall not be moved," the rallying song for equality, was a favorite of Lynda's. She marched (or sat) at rallies in Chicago, the District of Columbia, Baltimore, Detroit, New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maryland throughout her lifetime. She fought for the equality of all people, marching for women, LGBTQ, Black Lives Matter, abortion, poverty, and voting rights, and always advocating on behalf of the forgotten voices in society.

Lynda was a gem in this world and will be tremendously missed by those who had the pleasure of knowing her.

A Celebration of Life service for Lynda Susan Lou Rosenberg and David Aaron Rosenberg is scheduled for May 13, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at Mathew Bieszczat Volunteer Resource Center, 6100 N. Central Ave, Chicago, IL. 60646.

The Celebration of Life service includes a dinner buffet and a folk music concert. If weather permits, the concert will be held outside.

Everyone is welcome to attend-- bring a lawn chair for the concert. Please send RSVPs to eunidale@gmail.com.

*Out of respect of David Rosenberg's wishes, we have not included his obituary.