Obituary of Barbara Fletcher Brooks

Glenville, NY/Lake Placid, NY:
Barbara Fletcher Brooks, surrounded by loved ones, was called home to be with the Lord on February 22, 2021, at the age of 79. Barbara grew up in New Jersey, graduating from Abraham Clark High School in Roselle, NJ in 1958. She attended American University, where she met and married her first husband, the late Reverend Charles Kellerman, with whom she shared a son, David, and a daughter, Diane. Relocating to New York, Barbara balanced motherhood with her studies as she pursued a nursing degree, at Adirondack Community College and the University of Vermont. Upon achieving her degree as a registered nurse, she started her nursing career at the VA Hospital in Albany, NY, followed by St. Clare’s Hospital in Schenectady, NY. It was at St Clare’s Hospital where she met the love of her life, James L. Brooks whom she married on April 11, 1980, and welcomed Jim’s four children; Michael, Melinda, Jaime, and Jeanna Brooks into her family.
Barbara continued acute care nursing as Director of the E.R. at Saratoga Hospital before becoming the Nursing Administrator at a skilled care facility in Cobleskill, NY. After a wonderful career, she retired in 2006 enabling her and Jim to spend more time at their place on Sacandaga Lake, boating and playing cards with family and friends. In fact, Barbara was a fierce pinochle player and loved a challenging board game. However, her love for warm temperatures, sand, and the ocean drew her to Saint Augustine, Florida where she and Jim enjoyed sunny days at Crescent beach, fishing off the pier at Vilano beach, and fellowship at Saint Augustine Shores United Methodist Church. Upon Jim’s passing on March 21, 2015, Barbara returned to NY to live closer to family. She divided her time between Glenville, NY as well as Lake Placid, NY. She was a member of the Rotterdam United Methodist Church and the Adirondack Community Church.
She is survived by her son David Kellerman, his wife Dana and granddaughter, Deidra of Lake Placid, NY; daughter Diane Cerneck; stepchildren Michael Brooks of Green Cove Springs, FL, and grandson, Christopher; Melinda Brooks of Scotia, NY, and grandson Jonathon; Jaime Brooks, his wife Denise and grandson Dominick of Rotterdam, NY; Jeanna Brooks of Scotia, NY. She is also survived by her brother, Thomas Fletcher, his wife Adele of Moscow, PA; brother-in-law Louis Haller, his wife Georgia of Charlton, NY; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family would also like to thank Ruby Hupkes of Northville, NY, and Doreen Ross of Rotterdam, NY for their wonderful, lifelong friendship with Barbara.
A memorial service and interment are scheduled for June 26th at 1:00 pm at the Northampton Cemetery, Broadalbin, NY.