OUR COMMUNITY
J
ewish Senior Life (JSL) of
Metropolitan Detroit nom-
inated Rose Cooper, 95, of
West Bloomfield as Volunteer of
the Week for her years of dedica-
tion to the nonprofit.
“Rose has been a longtime
volunteer for JSL in Sharon’s
Boutique (located at the
Fleischman Residence on the
JCC campus) and takes respon-
sibility for purchasing, market-
ing within the shop, sales and
pricing the merchandise, too.
She is a dedicated volunteer, and
we love her energy and style,”
said Jo Strausz Rosen, execu-
tive director of development at
Jewish Senior Life.
Cooper used to sit on the
board as vice president for
Jewish Home for Aged before it
was renamed Jewish Senior Life
in 2009. She continues to stay
involved with Sharon’s Boutique,
where all proceeds benefit resi-
dent programs and services.
“I started my volunteer work
right away after I closed my
shop,” Cooper explained.
Cooper owned a Hallmark
shop in Walled Lake for eight
years and closed it in 1987.
“Once retiring from retail, I
did miss it. Coming to Fleishman
Residence, I ran into a friend
named Gail Mandel, who imme-
diately told me I was going to
work (volunteer) with her.”
Thinking back over her years
of volunteering, Cooper has
seen the boutique go through
many changes.
“When the boutique changed
management in 1996, Gale and
I volunteered to meet the new
management, customers and
find volunteers.”
Cooper says while she’s not as
active as she used to be with JSL,
she enjoys volunteering her time
at the boutique.
“I find volunteering is reward-
ing. Not only do you feel you
are doing your part helping an
organization, I am also helping to
fund social activities, entertain-
ment, birthday parties, exercise,
bingo and many games available
at each facility,” Cooper explains.
Cooper volunteers her time at
the boutique weekly while she
lives at Hechtman Apartments.
When she’s not volunteering,
Cooper enjoys spending time
with her friends and family.
“
At the age of 95, I still have a
good life and feeling very fortu-
nate to be able to give back. My
thoughts always go back to the
gift shop. It has always been part
of my life, and when I can be
there to help under any circum-
stances, I am there.”
To learn more about JSL, visit jslmi.org. To
nominate someone to be the next volun-
teer of the week, send a short paragraph
telling us who and why to rsweet@
thejewishnews.com.
Volunteer Rose Cooper is a
familiar presence at Sharon’s
Boutique in the Fleischman
Residence.
A ‘Gift’ to
the JSL
Community
RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR
24 | SEPTEMBER 15 • 2022
VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK
Rose Cooper on her 95th
birthday on July 4
Rose Cooper
attended My Fair
Lady at the Lincoln
Center Theater
(July 2022).