Rose Brandecker

Rose Brandecker was born March 4, 1936, in Homorodul de Jos, Romania and passed away on November 8, 2024 at her home. She was 88 years old. The youngest of six children born to Josef and Maria Einholz. The family was of German descent and heritage arising from the Donau-Schwaben people who migrated to Romania to farm and cultivate the land. She was raised in a devout Catholic family with 4 brothers and one sister living on the family farm. Family life was devastatingly disrupted with the onset of World War II and the subsequent loss of her brother, Wendel. The family was displaced during World War II fleeing from Romania and migrating to Poland, then Germany and finally Austria during Rose's early teen-aged years. They eventually settled in Linz where she attended high school for a short while. In 1951, at the age of 15, Rose and her family and with the help of Catholic Relief Services, immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island and assumed residence in Passaic NJ. Always a diligent student, she attended night school learning English and eventually getting her GED. She met her future husband John, who like she, was a newly arrived ethnic German immigrant refugee of World War II. They spent time at German dances and clubs where John played in the band. They married on Feb 5,1955. They attended Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in Passaic, NJ where they remained parishioners until moving to Texas many decades later.

Rose worked in various retail stores and factories until she received a certificate degree in food supervision and became the food and dietary supervisor for a small nursing home, Dolly Mount in Clifton NJ. Her primary love and devotion were to her family, immediate and extended. She was a diligent and dedicated wife, mother, and homemaker and strove to make her children's education her primary concern, especially given the lack of opportunities available to her during her early lifetime. She was validated when both sons, Ed and Gary graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1984 and 1988 respectively. While working at Dolly Mount, she also cared for her older brother Tony, who was disabled from polio. She enjoyed frequent trips to Atlantic City with her husband John, taking in the fun and entertainment.

In 2004, John and Rose relocated to Abilene, Texas to be near their son and his wife, Drs. Ed Brandecker and Roberta Kalafut. They attended Holy Family Church and in 2021 moved to Wesley Court where she remained until the time of her death. She is survived by her husband John, her eldest son and his wife, Drs Ed and Roberta (Kalafut) Brandecker, her younger son and his wife, Dr Gary and Karen Brandecker and grandchildren, Dr Kevin Brandecker, Kristen Brandecker, and Hayley Brandecker. She has one surviving sibling, Mary Mozer, in Clifton, NJ along with numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Dr Thomas & Teresa Headstream for their care of Rose along with aide Christina Vincent, and all the nurses and aides from Hospice of the Big Country. Memorials can be made to Hospice of the Big Country.

Vigil services, visitation with family and recitation of the rosary will be at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd., Abilene from, 5-7 pm Thursday, November 14. Funeral Mass will be at Holy Family Catholic Church, 5410 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, TX 79606 Friday November 15, 2024 at 10 am, with Fr. Fred Nawarskas presiding and Fr. Nilo Nalugon concelebrating.