Gloria Rozema

Gloria Joyce (Newhouse) Rozema died on March 29, 2026, at the age of 71 at Villa Marie Claire Hospice in Saddle River, NJ, after facing a medical diagnosis with remarkable resilience and unwavering faith.

Gloria was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on June 3, 1954. She was the daughter of Reverend Sidney Newhouse and Gladys (Abel) Newhouse. She was one of six children and is survived by her siblings: Dave Newhouse (Mary), Meredith Brace (Charles), Bob Newhouse, and Valerie Newhouse. She was predeceased by her sister, Carol Lenger (Bob).

Gloria grew up in the Christian Reformed faith as the daughter of the Reverend and moved between churches, homes, and Christian schools in Michigan and Minnesota. She went on to attend Calvin College, where she met David Rozema of Ridgewood, NJ and they wed in 1974. They were married for 19 years, beginning their life together at Calvin College, later moving to Ohio State University, and eventually settling in Fair Lawn, NJ, where they raised their growing family and built his architecture practice in Saddle River, NJ.

Gloria was a dedicated and loving mother to her three children, Matthew Rozema (Brielle), Michael Rozema (Victoria), and Meredith Rozema-Sutton, who survive her. She was a doting grandmother to her nine grandchildren: James, Elizabeth, Stella, Joe, Jack, Ben, Charlie, Nico, and Hayes.

Gloria remained a lifelong member of the Fair Lawn community and forged meaningful friendships with countless friends and neighbors. Her career included work across the medical field; she spent her early years working in a nursing home, always bringing home joyful and enchanting stories about her patients. The highlight of her career-spanning more than 25 years-was her time at BioCompression Systems, where she worked as a Customer Service Administrator alongside her BioCompression family, especially Bob and Dolores Freidenrich, who were a great gift to Gloria and remain like family.

Gloria lived a life rich in quiet purpose and meaningful connection. She found adventure in her travels throughout Europe and across the United States with her loved ones, and even participated in a mission trip to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to help rebuild the community. She found deep joy in life's simple pleasures at home. She loved to knit, read endlessly, tend her garden, occasionally play the piano, and filled her days with creativity and warmth. Deeply devoted to serving her community, she gave her time to Sunday school, the PTA, soup kitchen nights, and anyone she could help.

Those who knew Gloria will always remember her as the one with a camera in hand, capturing life's fleeting moments, and as a compassionate caretaker of shelter and foster dogs. She was the ultimate sports Mom, faithfully organizing her family's busy lives with her color-coded calendars and traveling from coast to coast to not miss a game. She cherished time spent at her family's lake home and annual reunion in Michigan. She filled the seasons with memorable beach vacations, holiday traditions, cookie baking, and her signature arts-and-crafts bins. Whether celebrating a birthday with her beloved angel food cakes or showing up in times of need, Gloria always offered attentive, reassuring care.

Gloria was known not for seeking a grand life, but for touching countless lives in meaningful ways. Her unwavering love, resilience, and deep devotion to her children and grandchildren will always be felt.

Gloria's family wishes to thank the caregivers and attentive staff at Villa Marie Claire Hospice, CareOne Rehabilitation Center, and Hackensack University Medical Center, especially Sandy Rozema whose kind and compassionate nursing care meant so much to Gloria and her family.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 6, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff, followed by a nearby luncheon gathering.

She will be laid to rest at Valleau Cemetery in Ridgewood, NJ, in a private interment to be held at a later date.

Donations in Gloria's memory may be made to your local dog shelter, breast cancer charity, or to Villa Marie Claire Hospice in Saddle River, NJ. villamarieclaire.org