Kevin Berkowitz
Dear Aunt Rita, You were my Grandma’s baby sister, my mom’s best friend, a wonderful wife, an amazing mom and grandmother. You were soft spoken with a huge heart. You lived your life by example for all of us to see. You were a hard working mom that raised five kids and you loved and stuck by your family through good times and rough ones too.Your spirit was full of optimism, laughter, and joy. I was so lucky to have you as my baby sitter for many years. I will always remember being excited driving up to your house on Midland Rd. It was like going to a castle on top of the hill. I knew I was going to have a ton of fun playing with all my older cousins. I remember watching football games in the back den with Curtis, Chuck and Donny. I remember playing board games and doing arts and crafts with Shelly and Rita Ann. Thank you for allowing Curtis and I to go have fun around the neighborhood, explore and grow. I have fond memories of playing on the streets, riding bikes, building forts and playing on the dirt hill across the street. Your backyard was like our own personal park. Some of my favorite memories were taking adventure walks down the hill to the little red store to get candy and chips or just hanging out with Gretchen watching our favorite cartoons. I remember watching in amazement your ability to knit and make beautiful stuff out of yarn.Looking back, the one think I did hate was eating dinner with your family. Uncle Maury made us eat everything on our plates before we could leave the table. It seemed there was always some type of vegetable on my plate I hated. Especially pees ! I remember stuffing them in my napkin or even holding them in my hand, trying some how to throw them away. Looking back however it was a special time for a brief moment where we were all together. You and my Grandma made the holidays very special for everyone that came into your homes. My Grandma made her house into a winter wonderland and you put up endless nicknacks around the house along with a big, beautiful tree. The warmth and love was truly felt in the Cornado homes during the holidays. I cherish those family parties & football Sunday’s in the back room. Weather it was at your house or my Grandmas house there was going to be great food, soulful music, stiff drinks, dancing, loud voices, a little arguing and lot’s of love. How many kids get to have a real life bad Santa during Christmas time? Uncle Maury was just that and you got a kick out of it every year. Thank you for giving me my first job, cleaning the bank on A street when I was a young sixteen year old boy. You trusted and believed in me to get the job done. That meant the world to me ! You taught me how to be responsible, work hard and clean. All of which I carry into my adulthood and I am sure my wife appreciates today. Not many wives would take in a mother in law with five kids to raise but you did. This is a prime example of your big heart and Gretchen’s life was blessed because of it. After your stroke and dealing with dialysis. You never complained. I saw first hand a few years ago when we spent the day in SF together with my mom & dad. We had lunch and saw Michael Feinstein. I witnessed how difficult is was for you to walk up stairs, open doors, move around people and do some of the little things I take for granted. I don’t remember how good our lunch was or how entertaining the show was. What I remember most is how strong willed you were. Your positive outlook on life, your joy through your body language and how you never complained. When you easily could have. I learned something from you these past ten years. I learned that life is not going to be perfect and life is going to be down right hard at times, to make the best out of every single day, to persevere, to be optimistic and to stand by and love your family. Your family is your legacy. Your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will continue to make you proud and they will carry the Cornado spirit