Rosellen "Relly" Liebowitz

Manalapan - Rosellen "Relly" Liebowitz (née Weissman), 88, of Manalapan, NJ, died peacefully in her sleep on July 26, in the company of family.

Relly was born in 1936, in Bronx, NY. She graduated from Taft High School, Bronx, NY, and earned her college degree from Hunter College in New York City in 1957. After graduating, she married and moved to New Jersey, where she devoted her life to both raising her three children and teaching within the Old Bridge School System. Relly taught for 46 years at the Southwood and the James A. McDivitt Elementary Schools before retiring in 2008. She touched the lives of thousands of students over the years, and many times taught the children of some of her former students in her classroom. Many of her former students kept in touch with her up to her final days. Relly was active in the Old Bridge Education Association, NJEA, and NEA, and was a tireless advocate for her fellow teachers over the years.

Beyond her passion for History and English Language, one of Relly's other life pursuits was that of an expert calligrapher, and she sent out elaborately penned cards to family and friends that everyone looked forward to receiving throughout the years. Relly also loved traveling and did so with her family and children, and then later on with her second partner in life, John Litchko. Relly was a voracious reader, a huge fan of The Beatles and Star Trek, and also a frequent attendee at many of the theaters, museums, and art galleries in New York City.

She is survived by her three children: Steven Liebowitz of Lincoln, NH; Caryn (Leonard) Bonosevich of Rhome, TX; and Phillip Liebowitz (Sheren George) of Cranford, NJ; her four grandchildren: Michael, Sara, Sam, and Lauren Bonosevich; her cousin Edward (Helene) Vernoff; and her former spouse and children's father, Allan Liebowitz. Relly was preceded in death by her parents Michael and Zara (née Keisch) Weissman (both d. 1986); beloved second partner in life, John Litchko Jr. (d. 1994); and cousin Robert (Linda) Fleischmann (both d. 2007), and David (Elena) Fleischmann (d. 2009).

It was Relly's wish to have her remains cremated. A celebration of her life will be announced at a future date.