Gertrude L. “Gert” Fody died on April 22, 2011, at Neshaminy Manor in Warrington, PA. She was ninety-three years of age.
She was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 20, 1917, the daughter of George E. and Margaret Curtis Johnston. Gert was a former resident of New York, before moving to Doylestown in 2007 to live with her late step-son Theodore J. Fody, who died on July 5, 2010.
Gert was a gregarious and vivacious person who loved life and the people around her. In 1960 a love story began, Gert was working as a bank teller and as fate would have it, Steve Fody, a widower, who owned a restaurant around the corner, made certain that he dropped his deposits off at Gert’s window. They soon fell in love and were married on August 20th, 1960. They made their home in New Hyde Park, New York, where they were stalwart parishioners at Notre Dame Church. Their other interests include the Knights of Columbus, where Gert was a member of the auxiliary. She loved to travel throughout Europe and North America.
After the death of Steve on June 22, 1986, Gert continued her membership in the Golden Age group of the Knights and a second Golden Age group at Notre Dame Church. Gert was undoubtedly one of the most proficient practitioners of the “Chicken Dance”, which she performed primarily at wedding receptions, to the delight of those present. One of her favorite hobbies was to solve jigsaw puzzles; one was always in progress in her living room. Another was the collection of Hummel’s with a mantel piece teeming with the little statuettes.
Although when Gert married Steve who had two sons, she was far from the usual perception of a step-mother. She was welcomed and accepted as an integral part of the Fody family. She became mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She leaves a step-son, Edward, his wife, Ann, ten grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass 11:00AM on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 235 E. State St. Doylestown, PA 18901. Interment will follow at St. John Neumann Cemetery, Chalfont.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Neshaminy Manor, attn: Resident Welfare Fund, 1660 Easton Rd., Warrington, PA 18976.