Rose Ann Ullrich

The circle of life embraced our dear Mom, wife, grandmother, mother-n-law and friend to
everyone, Rose Ann Ullrich, after a lightning quick battle of Acute Leukemia. My mom
wanted it to be clear, that her first name is actually “Rose Anna” named after her mother
Elizabeth’s two sisters Aunt Rose and Aunt Anna. My mom argued with the Division of
Motor Vehicles for years that her middle name wasn’t Ann…So There!
Our Mom of 88 years lead the model life of the American dream. Born in Union New
Jersey by Hungarian/Slavic immigrants, Stephen & Elizabeth, who entered through Ellis
Island and eventually settled in Irvington NJ. Mom had three other siblings Stephen,
David and Helen. At the age of 18yo she met Walter Ullrich Jr. while competing in dance
roller skating competitions. My mom was a New Jersey State Roller Skate Champion. In
1957, Mom married our father Walter, and the journey began.
They settled in South Orange, and first came Mark in 1961 then Scott in 1965. My mom
recently told me a story there were a lot of Italians who settled there and boy the loved
to talk. In 1966 they moved to Union NJ and purchased a duplex with Owen & Jane
Bowman. Then in 1967 Gregory was born. Mom worked for Prudential early on and
also on the side edited research articles, journals, and books. She was also a great
seamstress, making a lot of her own clothes, both my mom’s and Dad’s skating apparel.
For a few years she was a Cub Scout leader, bowler and PTA member. Imagine raising
three boys and juggling life!
In June 1973, our parents moved to Piscataway NJ. My mom started working at Rutgers
University part-time and eventually went full time as an executive secretary for 20 years
ending up in the Administration Department. Mom could run any copier, computer
(Lotus) and befriended and handled any of the presidents of the University. It was
comical, Mom had the hardest time using a controller for the TV! Mom had an intern at
Rutgers that she mentored who later became a Superior Court Judge in Middlesex
County. She did all this raising a husband and three kids.
Mom loved and adored her friends & neighbors as she watched us grow up at the
Wynnewood swim club where her boys all competed on the swim team. Vacationing
many years at the Jersey shore with all their friends and the kids, swimming at Pigeon
Hill Lake and Horseshoe Lake. Mom was an avid tennis player, swimmer, bicyclist,
walker and at age 50 started skiing until she was in her late 70’s. At the age of 85 she
gave up biking, tennis and skating but wanted to play pickle ball! My mom loved her
wine and was quite an amateur sommelier belonging to the Wine club with our dad.
Mom participated at the Senior Center and became the president of the garden club and
was instrumental in upgrading the Veterans Memorial at the Possumtown Park as it was
also known. Mom was a painter, and her art hung in the new apartment. On her last day
of life she was getting ready to attend her painting class.

My Mom’s life was fulfilled when her granddaughter Kayla was born, the daughter of her
son Gregory and his wife Kathleen. My Mom was thrilled to share her love of life with
Kayla and made every attempt to influence her to worldly things. There were many trips
to Disney, Caribbean Islands and ski resorts over the years. Mom was so proud when
Kayla graduated from Penn State.
Mom was the definition of a Mother. She was so devoted to our father for 66 years, to
her 3 children and granddaughter. Mom adored her two daughters-in-law, Jane and Kathleen.

Mom was unfiltered, spunky, spirited, pragmatic,
always curious to learn and loved to tell you how to drive and challenge you on what’s
right or wrong running to the nearest encyclopedia. Mom and Dad traveled to over 25
ski resorts and Europe where they visited Hungary and several other countries.
However, going to her parents’ homeland was her greatest accomplishment. This was a
little in the life of Rose Anna Ullrich, she filled her 88 years well, with love and left her
three boys knowing she was proud and loved them unconditionally. Her life was fulfilled
this round but made it clear she would do it differently the next round. Mom said, “it was
my time to go.” On September 11th at 2:57pm she left and joined, her husband Walter
who was passed in October 2023 and Granddaughter Kayla February 2020 and her
beloved sister Helen and David who she missed dearly. Mom’s final word to us all…I love you!

There are no funeral services. However, there will be a private interment in the Atlantic View Cemetery and Mausoleum at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital and the National Suicide Prevention Line.

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