Sherrill Lee “Cookie” Wood Braunschweig, a Hayward resident known for her warm hospitality, signature baked goods and decades of travel and social engagement, died at her home on July 31, 2026. She was 85.
Early life and education
Born in Berkeley and raised in San Anselmo, Braunschweig grew up in Marin County and often recalled a childhood she described as full of activity and fun. She graduated from Sir Francis Drake High School (now Archie Williams High School) and went on to attend both Oregon State University and San Jose State University. While on campus she pledged the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
New York, work and a love of theater
In her early twenties, she accompanied her father on a business trip to New York and decided to remain there for a time. She worked as a secretary at an advertising firm, a period she later remembered as glamorous and exciting — a time of theater visits and lively social events that shaped her appreciation for the arts and entertaining.
Family life and Bay Area years
Braunschweig married Walter Braunschweig, a San Francisco police officer, in 1967. The couple lived in Mill Valley while raising their two children, Kali and Kyle, and later moved to the Glenwood neighborhood in San Rafael. Her years as a mother and community member were filled with youth sports, family boating outings and neighborhood gatherings.
Later in life she made her home in Hayward, where she spent her final years surrounded by family and friends.
Personality, hobbies and traditions
Family and friends said Braunschweig was known affectionately as "Cookie" from infancy and that the nickname reflected both her warmth and her skill in the kitchen. She was a prolific baker whose favorites included cinnamon rolls, molasses crinkles and snowball cookies. Guests and relatives alike remember her desserts as a fixture at family gatherings.
She was also noted for a keen eye for fashion — voted "Best Dressed" in high school — and for a readiness to offer smart, considerate advice. She entertained widely, made friends easily and enjoyed comedic films with family members, finding humor in everyday life.
“It was fabulous!”
That was Braunschweig’s typical exclamation about growing up in Marin County, a reflection of how she recalled her early years.
- Known for: Baking and entertaining
- Interests: Travel, theater, family sports and social life
- Education: Sir Francis Drake High School, Oregon State, San Jose State
Travel and independence
Described by those who knew her as fiercely independent, Braunschweig traveled extensively. In her twenties she embarked on solo trips across Europe and continued to prioritize travel throughout her life, developing a broad appreciation of cultures and experiences beyond the Bay Area.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sherrill Lee “Cookie” Wood Braunschweig |
| Born | Berkeley, California |
| Died | July 31, 2026 — Hayward, California |
| Age | 85 |
| Immediate family | Husband: Walter Braunschweig (married 1967); Children: Kali and Kyle |
Survivors include her children and close friends who were with her at home when she died. Those who knew her remember a person who could make others feel special through small, thoughtful details and whose humor and advice were readily available when needed.
Services and memorial arrangements were not disclosed in the information provided by the family. For many in Hayward and the wider Bay Area, Braunschweig leaves a legacy of hospitality, a love of travel and a home always open to friends and family.
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