Roslyn Mandel

Roslyn Alexander Mandel died peacefully in her sleep after a long illness just 4 months short of her 91st birthday. She was born in Laredo, Texas, and lived there her entire life, always happy to be with her friends and family and the land she loved.
Her parents were Benjamin Alexander and Jessie Lee Alexander and she grew up in a house at 1718 Victoria Street where she lived much of her adult life. Her father was born in Cuero, Texas, his family having emigrated from Germany to south Texas in the late 1800s. The Alexander's were only the second Jewish family to settle in Laredo.-Roslyn's mother was born in Natchez, Mississippi to the Hellman family who were related to Confederate cabinet member Judah P. Benjamin.-Ben Alexander met Jessie Lee Hellman in St. Louis as an older bachelor and convinced her to marry him and move to Laredo. Roslyn's mother died of typhoid fever contracted while swimming in the Rio Grande when Roslyn was only 10. Her father died a few years later and she was raised by an aunt, Frances Alexander, who also cared for her brother Maurice Alexander and her first cousin Samuel Meyer. Roslyn's father was always a cattleman, but later also became president of The Laredo National Bank.
Roslyn graduated from the Hockaday School in Dallas in 1940 and later from National Park College in Washington, D.C.-She met the love of her life, Max A. Mandel, when he came to Laredo to practice law and they were married in the home on Victoria Street. Roslyn got her love of travel and exploring the world from her parents and she and Max traveled extensively around the world during their lives together.-
Roslyn always had a keen sense of discovery, adventure and a great sense of humor.-She is remembered as being young at heart even into her final days. Her main passions were her late husband, Max, her three daughters --Jessie, Louise, and Suzanne-- and her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She also loved cooking. She was famous in the family for her careful preparation of the Thanksgiving Day turkey and her delicious pumpkin chiffon pie. She also loved playing bridge with her friends and was frustrated when she did not win, which was rarely. She continued playing bridge until after she turned 90, often playing with much younger partners.
Roslyn loved the South Texas outdoors and especially loved fishing.-She fished for bass in tanks on ranches and in lakes around Laredo, and for larger fish in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Pacific.-Max would patiently read while Roslyn fished.-When she was older, and not able to fish, she enjoyed walking on the beach at South Padre Island.
Roslyn was fluent in Spanish and had good friends in Los Dos Laredos.-She and Max loved going to the Cadillac Bar and Rincon del Viejo and they loved travelling all over Mexico.
Roslyn was a great hostess for the Laredo community. She served as member of the Society of Martha Washington and was presented as Martha Washington.-She is remembered as always being among the first to reach out to each new Base Commander of the Laredo Air Force Base and always welcomed each new director of Customs and INS when they arrived in Laredo. She valued friendship with educators in Laredo and welcomed new professors from Laredo Junior College and Texas A&M in her home.
Roslyn is predeceased by her father Benjamin Alexander, her mother Jessie Lee Alexander, her brother Maurice Alexander and his wife Aurora, and her first cousin Samuel Meyer.
Her survivors include her daughters Jessie Lee Jacobs (Gary), Louise A. Mandel (Dr. Brant Mittler), Suzanne F. Palmer (Russell); her 7 grandchildren: Lisa Jacobs Blau (Jeff) of New York City, Greg Jacobs of Laredo, Marc Jacobs (Ana Lee) of Houston; Adriana Weinfeld Goodwin (Todd) of Miami, Alan Weinfeld of New York City, Stephen Palmer of San Antonio, and Brent Palmer (Sharon) of Miami.-Roslyn leaves 4 great-grandchildren: Max Blau, Avery Blau, Jack Jacobs, and Elliott Jacobs. To all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren she was "Nanny" and the grandchildren remember that she facilitated all of them in obtaining higher education degrees and broadening travel experiences.-Roslyn is further survived by only two cousins of her generation: Olga Meyer (Laredo) and Fred Feibelman (Tucson).-Other surviving nieces and nephews include: Dr. Maureen Alexander, Rosalind Alexander Kokolis (George), Gail Alexander Davis (Ross), Ben Alexander (Frances), and Phyllis Alexander Terry (William); surviving cousins in Laredo are: Frances (Meyer) Salinas, Miriam Meyer, and Alex Meyer.
Roslyn loved spending weekends with Max and the family along the Rio Grande at a farm called Las Islitas north of Laredo. After Max's death in 2002, Roslyn honored him by making gifts of portions of that farm to the City of Laredo for the Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course built along the banks of the Rio Grande for all of the community to enjoy.
Roslyn always had a smile on her face and a hearty laugh even when many medical illnesses limited her later life. She maintained a positive outlook and never lost her taste for good food and good company.-She was a social person who stayed positive and always looked to the future. Even after age 90, she regularly exercised under the supervision of cousin Frances Salinas in Laredo
The family wishes to thank her caregiver Laura Rosales for extending her life and providing wonderful care for Roslyn over the years as well as Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa and Dr. Joaquin Cigarroa for their many years of loving care of Roslyn.

Pall Bearers will be:
Greg M Jacobs,
Marc S Jacobs,
Alan Weinfeld,
Brent Palmer,
Stephen Palmer,
Todd Goodwin,
Benjamin Alexander
Gerardo Salinas

In lieu of flowers Roslyn would have appreciated donations to:

Border Region Behavioral Health Center
P.O. Box 440217
Laredo, TX 78044
~or~
Monte Mucho Audubon Society
1110 Hill Place Drive
Laredo, TX 78045-2054

Arrangements have been entrusted to the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels, 1410 Jacaman Rd., Laredo, TX 78041, 956.722.8850