Rosemarie Elizabeth (Barak) Cheff

Youngstown – Rosemarie Elizabeth Cheff, 80, of Youngstown, passed peacefully into God’s embrace and joined the angels in Heaven early Sunday morning March 2, 2025 with her loving family by her side.

Rosemarie will always be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

She was born May 11, 1944 in Youngstown, the daughter of Mitchell and Rose (Smith) Barak and grew up on the Southside of Youngstown.

Rosemarie graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1962. Rosemarie then graduated from Cosmetology School and began a long career as a hairdresser owning her own shop for numerous years. Besides working as a beautician Rosemarie was a natural born caregiver and proud homemaker. She was a true matriarch for her family and always made them her top priority. Rosemarie also loved to cook and bake which lead to Cheff’s Delight Catering specializing in baking holiday cookies and catering special events. In later years Rosemaire wanted to stay busy, which led to her becoming a cook and then being Dietary Manager at the Inn at Christien Valley.

She was a member of St. Christine Church, its bereavement committee for mercy dinners, and part of the Catholic Cursillo Retreat Movement. She also volunteered for the American Red Cross.

Rosemarie had many passions throughout her life. She enjoyed cooking, baking, collecting camels, playing cards and Uno with her family. She loved all animals, especially feeding the animals that came to visit her from her wooded back yard.

Rosemarie will always be remembered by the love of her life, her husband of over 58 years Dominic Paul Cheff whom she married on October 1, 1966 at St. Christine Church. Her beloved sons Dominic (Gina) Cheff of Medina and Anthony John (Michelle) Cheff of Youngstown, her four grandchildren whom she adored Joey, Danielle, Marley and Dominic, a sister Donna Osipchak and a brother John (Dottie) Barak along with nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Rosemarie was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Mary Kay Hammond.

Family and friends may pay their respects to Rosemarie on Thursday evening, March 6, 2025 from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market St., Boardman.  

There will be additional visitation on Friday morning, March 7, 2025 from 10:00 am until 10:45 am at St. Christine Parish, 3165 S Schenley Ave, Youngstown, where a Catholic Funeral Mass will take place at 11:00 am.

Rosmaries’s family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to Ed and Diane Reese, the staff at Briarfield Ashley Place, and the entire staff at the Inn at Christine Valley for all the care and compassion shown to them and Rosemarie throughout this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, material contributions may be made in Rosemarie’s name to Animal Charity, 8469 Southern Blvd., Building #3, Youngstown, Ohio 44514 or St. Christine Parish, 3165 S Schenley Ave, Youngstown, Ohio 44511. 

Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary and send condolences to Rosemarie’s family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rosemarie Elizabeth (Barak) Cheff, please visit our floral store.