Mary Florence Gerecz

GERECZ, HORNBAKER, SIMONDS, FEHN, HAYES, GOLA, SUNDAHL

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 6/8/2011 at 10:09:28

Mary Florence Gerecz, born, August 3, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, died: June 6, 2011 in Iowa City, Iowa.

Daughter of Clyde Oscar Hornbaker and Mary Florence Simonds. She was preceded in death by her husband, Emery L. Gerecz, May 13, 1975
Surviving family members are sisters, Ruth, Betty and Doris (and her husband, Charles), children, Emery D. Gerecz (and his wife, Susan), Leslie J. Gerecz and
Marilyn B. Fehn (and her husband, Bruce); grandchildren, Owen J. Hayes (and his wife, Evelyn), Marilyn L. Gola (and her partner, Dan) and Sharon R. Sundahl (and her husband, Ernest); great-grandchildren, Zachary, Shane, Olivia, Kristin, James, and Emily.
Mary had a close and loving relationship with her nieces and nephews,
Blaise, Paul, Pam, Pat, Bruce, Phil, Beth, Tom and David.

Margaret and Laura deserve mention as especially close friends who are considered family members.

Mary was the eldest of five sisters. Mary, Esther, Ruth, Betty and Doris were very close during their younger years growing up together in the Hornbaker family home in Chicago. During these happy times prior to World War II they often spent many pleasant summer holidays at the family vacation home on beautiful Burt Lake in Michigan.
Mary met her future husband, Emery, at college in Chicago and they were married in 1941. When the war started, Emery’s National Guard unit was activated and Mary became an Army wife working at Fort Belvoir, Virginia where Emery was stationed.
Mary’s three children were born during the years shortly following World War II. She was a great storyteller who loved spending quality time with her children and grandchildren. They all have many fond memories of walks in the park on pleasant summer evenings followed by wonderful bedtime stories told from memory and her vivid imagination!

Throughout her entire life Mary had a keen mind and wonderful sense of humor. Her home was always filled with classical music which imparted a love for music to her children. Mary loved to read and was never without a book! Her favorite television stations were the History Channel, National Geographic and PBS.
With Mary’s passing her family and friends feel a deep sense of loss as if a brilliant light and source of inspiration has been extinguished. Yet, in spite of this great loss we know that she is now in the presence of the Lord.
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38,39)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Mary chose to be cremated. Burial will be in Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines and her family will hold a private commemoration of her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Friends of Iowa Public Television or Iowa Public Radio.