ROSEMARY WOLOCK

FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at Hebrew Memorial Chapel. The Chapel service will be webcast. OFFICIATING: Rabbi David Nelson INTERMENT: Clover Hill Park Cemetery Rosemary Wolock, age 79, died November 16, 2025. Rosemary was born in Detroit in 1946 to a Polish-American couple, John and Estelle Kozielski. She grew up on Sussex Avenue with her older sister, Julie Ann. From a young age, Rosemary was smart and studious. She attended St. Casimir's Catholic School, where she edited the school newspaper, The Casmirette, and graduated as Salutatorian in 1963. Her intellect and determination were evident from the start. She went on to major in journalism at the University of Detroit. Rosemary and David met through Young Democrats of Michigan. They were anti-war and advocates for civil rights, equal rights, and access to education. They wed in December 1969, following her conversion to Judaism. Their wedding, held during the Delano Grape Strike, was their first act as a married couple, as they fruitlessly begged the caterer to honor the strike and not serve grapes. Rosemary began her career as a journalist at small local papers, including The Dearborn Press. But after David began working as a lawyer, he supported her as she pursued her own legal education. She attended the Detroit College of Law, part of the second class to accept women. This small group of pioneering women faced significant headwinds but supported each other fiercely. Drawing on her editorial skills, determination, and intellect, Rosemary was instrumental to founding the Law Review at the Detroit College of Law. Rosemary was sworn into the Bar in 1974 and embarked on a remarkable, decades-long career. She was a president of the Women's Bar Association of Oakland County and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. She served on the Board of Law Examiners. She revamped the Worker’s Compensation Legislation to make it gender neutral. She held significant government appointments, serving as Chair of the Workers Compensation Appeal Board under Governor Jim Blanchard and later as a Workers Compensation Magistrate under Governor Jennifer Granholm. In 1976, she rallied for the Equal Rights Amendment in Springfield, Illinois. She picketed the Pentagon to protest the Vietnam War. She was a past chair of the Women's Political Caucus and a proud delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Rosemary and David were acquainted with many prominent figures, including Governors Blanchard and Granholm, Senators Sander and Carl Levin, Justices Marilyn Kelly and Patricia Boyle, and labor leaders like Douglas Fraser. Rosemary and David raised their children as members of Congregation Beth Shalom. Their Passover Seders were famous, bringing a unique spirit of social justice and joy to the holiday. As their daughter Jana became more religious, warm and beautiful Shabbos dinners became a family standard. After David's passing in 2016, Rosemary became increasingly involved in Beth Shalom's morning minyan, and later attended services and classes at Young Israel of Oak Park. Family was important to Rosemary and David, and she was warmly welcomed into the large Wolock-Freedman clan. The Kozielski side of the family, although smaller in size, was just as formidable in the love and joy they shared. Rosemary especially cherished her older sister Julie, with both David and Rose admiring Julie’s marriage with Jerry Lucas and their parenting of their wonderful children. Rosemary was an avid Star Trek fan, a voracious reader, a lover of Polish arts, food and the language, and a frequent visitor to the opera and the Detroit Institute of the Arts. Rosemary retired in 2010. After David, her husband of 46 years, passed away in 2016, she lived with her daughter Rachel and son-in-law Steven, and their daughter Lilia. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s-type dementia in 2022 and later moved to Coville and then Chester Street Residence, where she made new friends. Rosemary and David felt blessed to have wonderful children and grandchildren. During the progression of Rosemary’s Alzheimer's, her children and grandchildren became a strong, united force, working together, each with their strength, to help her get the best care possible. This is a true testament of one of the greatest accomplishments of Rosemary and David. Rosemary is predeceased by her parents, John and Estelle Kozielski, her sister Julie Ann Lucas and Julie’s husband Jerry, and her beloved husband David Wolock. She was the cherished sister-in-law of Evelyn (late Arthur) Cowen and the late Lillian (late Roy) Elliott. She is survived by her devoted daughters, Jana (Shmuel) Fried of Dallas, Texas; Rachel (Steven Kish) Wolock of Royal Oak, Michigan; and Lia (Sriram Mohan) Wolock of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was the loving grandmother to six grandchildren: Pinchas Mordechai Fried, Avraham Yaakov “A.Y.” Fried, Rochel Susha Fried, Leah Mindel Chaya Fried, Yehuda Lipman Fried, and Lilia Hadley Kish. She was the dear aunt of John (Jennifer) Lucas, Cindy Lucas, Jennifer (Bill) Bryant, Jeremy (Laura) Elliott, Aaron Elliott, Sarah (Moshe) Morgenstern, Yitzchak (Tzipka) Cowen, and Terry (Leo Fried) Cowen. She is also survived by other loving relatives. She is fondly remembered by many good friends, made throughout the years of her involvement in politics, legal work, religious activities, and her innumerable interests. SHIVA: Shiva will be at the home of Rachel Wolock and Steven Kish 7900 Huntington Road Huntington Woods, Michigan 48070 Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30-8:00 pm with religious services at 7:00 pm Jana will also be sitting Shiva on Thursday from 7:00 to 10:00 pm at The Hochheiser Residence 26020 Marlowe Place Oak Park, MI 48237 If you would like to send something to the family for Shiva etc., please coordinate through Jana Fried at (214) 632-4694. CONTRIBUTIONS: If you wish to honor the memory of Rosemary Wolock, you may do so by donating to ACLU https://action.aclu.org/give/now or a charity of your choice.

ROSEMARY WOLOCK

September 13, 1946 - November 16, 2025

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ROSEMARY WOLOCK

September 13, 1946 - November 16, 2025

Obituary Notification

Explore

Donations

Grief & Healing

About Us

Obituaries

Plan Ahead

Resources

Contact Info