Elizabeth Everest Merook, age 91, passed away on April 24, 2018. She was born in Wallington, New Jersey, and then lived in Garfield until marrying and moving to Clifton, New Jersey with her husband, Frank Merook. She and Frank moved to Largo, Florida in 1986 after vacationing near Reddington Beach for a number of years. Elizabeth was a telephone operator for New Jersey Bell, then ATT, for more than 40 years and she genuinely loved her work and talking to people. In New Jersey, she was a parishioner of the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Wallington, where her parents, Mary and Paul Rakowski were among the founding members. In later life, Elizabeth attended several churches in the Pentecostal tradition and had a deeply spiritual and personal belief in God.

Elizabeth was a lifelong member of the Pioneers of America, various ladies' groups, and participated in many social activities where she lived in Largo. Most recently, Elizabeth lived at Princeton Village of Largo, and was much loved by staff and residents alike. Elizabeth loved visiting with family and friends in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Kentucky, California and Florida. A very special trip was one taken with her sister Jennie and nieces Christine and Alice and Alice's husband, Alan, to Alaska, in 2002.

Elizabeth loved to shop, was a stylish dresser and loved to iron her clothes. Before being diagnosed with low vision in her late fifties, she enjoyed reading novels and going to the movies. She enjoyed spending time with her nephews and nieces, taking them to New York City to see the annual Christmas tree lighting, to the beach in summer, for pizza and ice cream and random Sunday drives. She was one of the first to take her nieces to work before the concept of "taking your children to work" was coined.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, Mary (Kopec) and Paul Rakowski, her brothers William, Walter and Joseph, and sisters Violet Rose, Wanda and Jennie. She is survived by her nieces Christine Piatek, Alice Piatek (Alan Gutmore), Irene Remppies, Hilary Michaels, Emily Michaels , Amy Rakowski, Marybeth Lavenberg, Nancy Maletsky, Deborah Koney, her nephews Robert Rakowski, David Rakowski, and James Rakowski and a large extended family connected to all mentioned here. She also leaves behind her dear sisters in law, Stephie Rakowski, of Wallington, and Mary Rakowski, of California.

Elizabeth is also survived by her dear friends Diane Sosnoski and Emma Wiegand, who together were called The Three Musketeers, and her many friends at Princeton Village of Largo. A celebration of Elizabeth's life will be held at Princeton Village of Largo on May 1, 2018 at 2 p.m. There will also be a service in New Jersey at a later date. Elizabeth will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.