Gertrude E. Gabaccia

Gertrude Gabaccia May 23, 1919 - April 22, 2021 Gertrude Gabaccia, ne Wuensch, was born in NYC on the cusp of the roaring 20s. Mom loved to talk about her years growing up in NYC at a time when the city was a different place. She told stories of playing and roller skating outside her apartment on Amsterdam Ave and then later on Wadsworth Terrace. She loved to bike around the city and ice skate in parks of the 20s and 30s. At 9 years old in 1928 Trudy (as she is affectionately called) took a trip to Germany to visit family relatives. Her paternal family was in Berlin and her maternal family lived in Czechoslovakia. Mom often spoke about that trip where she got to know her cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents. As a young women Trudy vacationed at dude ranches in New York State. She loved riding horses. After high school and a few college courses Mom entered the work force. She started in the typing pool at Celanese corporation where her talents were quickly noticed and she was plucked from the pool and given the job as personal secretary to the VP of Celanese where she stayed until she left working and started a family. In 1946 Mom met the love of her life, my father, Aldo Gabaccia. Moms brother Edmond introduced them. Edmond was doing a summer internship at Celanese when he met Aldo. Mom often explained that she got married late because all the available men were off fighting WWII. Dad had been a Major in the Army Air Corp. Mom was very proud to have met such an educated accomplished gentleman. A May 4, 1947 wedding united the couple then off to a 2-week honeymoon in Florida. In June 1948 Leonora was born and in June 1951 a second daughter, Barbara, was born. Mom and Dad first moved to Maywood, NJ, then in 1953 they moved to a new house in River Vale, NJ. Mom was very active in the River Vale PTA, the local garden club, painting, golf, bowling, family and love of traveling. Trudy and Al raised 2 daughters who attended college and pursued good careers. After the years of child rearing, Mom and Dad traveled always taking top of the line tours to Italy, Hawaii and exciting destinations. Mom kept scrapbooks on all their trips. After my Dad retired Mom and Dad moved to an over 60 retirement community in Columbus, NJ. There Mom and Dad became very active in the social life of the community. They played in poker groups, golfed, played tennis, bocce, traveled, biked and enjoyed life. Starting in 1975 grandchildren started to arrive and Trudy welcomed 4 grandchildren into the family. She was always willing to babysit and loved to have all 4 grandchildren together. Mom lived a long very long life almost reaching 102 years old. When asked how she was able to live this long life she replied that she was able to accept what life offered, good and bad and move on to what life had to present to her next. A good lesson to pass along to her family. After my fathers death Mom moved to Orchard Park, NY to live near Barbara and Ronald Fuhrhop, Moms daughter and son in law. She lived in an independent living facility called Orchard Glen. Then, in 2015, she moved in with her daughter Barbara and son in law in Cheektowaga, NY. As Mom aged her care was facilitated by good health care workers that came to the house. She passed away peacefully surrounded by family. I have had my Mother for so many years it was a blessing to have her love for so long, stated Leonora. Barbara commented, that having Mom live so close only made me love her more. Gertrude leaves behind her daughter Leonora and her husband Christian Davidson from Fair Haven, NJ. Her daughter Barbara and Ronald Fuhrhop from Cheektowaga, NY. Her brother Edmond Wuensch and his wife Mary. Grandchildren August Zilincar and his wife Natalie, Keith Pearson Fuhrhop and his wife Kristin, Jenna Zilincar and her husband Chris Aylward and Suzanne Chapper and her husband Robert. Great grandchildren, August, Alexandria, Daphne, Violet, Danielle, Lance and Benjamin. The family will be present at Lombardo Funeral Home (Southtowns Chapel) 3060 Abbott Road, Orchard Park, near Lake Ave. on Sunday April 25th from 2:00-4:00 PM where a prayer service will follow. There will also be services at Tilghman Funeral Home in New Egypt, NJ. Interment will be at Brigadier General William B Doyle Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ where Trudys beloved husband Aldo is buried. Leave condolences at www.lombardofuneralhome.com