Obituary

LAUREL ANN MARIE ROOKWOOD (February 14, 1949 – March 9, 2026)

Laurel Ann Marie Rookwood, 77, of Davie, Florida, passed away at 2:57 AM on March 9, 2026, at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Rahway, New Jersey. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she carried the resilience of her homeland throughout a life defined by determination, service, and an unyielding fight for what was right.

Laurel’s journey to becoming a registered nurse was forged in fire. While many would have chosen the path of least resistance, she chose the hard road: attending college full-time while holding down a full-time job. She did not merely complete her dream; she executed it with precision. Her career evolved from bedside nursing to serving as a Nurse Case Manager in the insurance sector of healthcare. In this role, she became a fierce advocate, using her expertise to navigate complex systems and ensure patients received the proper care they deserved. She was resilient in her mission to cut through red tape and protect the vulnerable.

In her later years, Laurel traded the demands of the hospital for the quiet of her home at 8121 SW 24th Court #303. Having spent a lifetime caring for others, she developed a well-earned aversion to gardening and home maintenance in her twilight years—a clear signal that she was finally resting. She thrived despite the setbacks life threw her way, proving that character is not measured by the absence of obstacles, but by the refusal to be stopped by them.

While she did not follow a specific organized faith, Laurel possessed a deep, personal conviction that a greater power existed. She lived by her own moral compass, guided by a sense of purpose that transcended doctrine.

She is survived by her son, Wayne; her granddaughter, Iona; her great-grandson, Zachariah; and her twin great-granddaughters, Zuri and Zoelle. She was preceded in death by her father, Ivanhoe Rookwood (1979); her mother, Linda Hancock (2021); her brother; and her two half-siblings.

In accordance with her wishes, Laurel has been cremated. No formal services are planned at this time. Her family believes that honoring her memory is a personal endeavor, left to the discretion of those who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that those wishing to honor her legacy consider supporting a cause dedicated to healthcare advocacy or community service.