Braverman, Rosalie G.

Rosalie G. Braverman, 100+, of Iowa City, died peacefully at her home on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010. Funeral services will be held 2 p. m. today at Agudas Achim Synagogue, with Rabbi Jeff Portman officiating. Burial will be at Agudas Achim Cemetery. Meal of Condolence will be at Agudas Achim Synagogue after the burial. Arrangements are with Lensing Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the David and Rosalie Braverman Talmud Torah, the Agudas Achim Building Fund, Shelter House, Iowa City Hospice or the Crisis Center.

Rosalie was born around the time of Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) some time between 1906 and 1910. She was born in Grejawo, Poland, the daughter of Moshe Dovid and Rifka (Meyronowsky) Rauchman. The surname Rauchman was changed to Richman when the family immigrated through Ellis Island in 1921. She was raised in Council Bluffs and moved to Iowa City in 1929 to attend the University of Iowa. She chose Iowa after a year at the University of Nebraska because of Iowa's women's swimming pool. Many years and five children later, in 1963, Rosalie earned her bachelor's degree in speech and dramatic arts from the University of Iowa. She was fluent in English, Yiddish, German and Polish, and could converse in Russian.

On June 4, 1930, Rosalie married David Braverman in Iowa City. David died April 2, 1985.

Rosalie was a founding member of the Sisterhood of Agudas Achim Congregation, where she was a long time member. She also belonged to Iowa City Women's Club and Pioneer Women. 

She was a warm and loving mentor to hundreds of young people entering university life. She fed, consoled and brought family life to students and faculty, many of whom were away from home for the first time.

Rosalie's oral history was recorded and is now included in the University of Iowa Library's collection. She wrote many stories about her childhood in Poland and Germany. These stories were compiled by Rosalie's niece, Shirley Goodman, and are also in the UI Library collection.

Rosalie will always be remembered for her incredible zest for life which never dimmed until just the last few weeks before her death. She was particularly interested in people and their personal stories and could talk with any person she happened to meet. She loved traveling to new places. When she was 80 years young she visited China, a trip she particularly enjoyed. She also enjoyed just being driven around Iowa City and seeing new areas. She always commented that it was a beautiful day even when it was raining or rather dreary. And absolutely nothing pleased her more than being surrounded by members of her family (especially the children) and of course, they adored her.

 Survivors include her five children, Myles “Mace” (Kay) Braverman, Dick (Phyllis) Braverman and Joseph “Jody” (Janie) Braverman, all of Iowa City, Corrine (Milt) Miller of Calabasas, Calif., and Eloise (David) McCuskey of Minneapolis; former daughter-in-law, June Braverman of Iowa City; 23 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

Rosalie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, David; brothers, Salo Rauchman and Georgio Rauchman; and her sisters, Eudice Dejez and Eva Goodman.

The family wishes to thank her many caregivers over the years, including Sarah, Katie, Danielle, Nicki, Janae, Ambar, Margaret, Lisa, Shari, Colette, Jane, and especially her grandson, Bob Braverman.

The family also wishes to thank the staff at Iowa City Hospice, especially Diane and Lori, and Visiting Nurses Association who have made the last few months more bearable for everyone.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the David and Rosalie Braverman Talmud Torah, the Agudas Achim Building Fund, Shelter House, Iowa City Hospice or the Crisis Center.

Online condolences may be directed to

Zichrono Livracha