Gertrude M. Abrams

ABRAMS - Gertrude M. Of Amherst, Massachusetts, formerly of Hamburg, NY, died at age 101 on October 4, 2008, content with her life and at peace with her death. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Abrams, and her daughters husband, Robert Miltz, of Amherst, Massachusetts, and by the niece she raised as a daughter, Elaine Bloom and her husband, Laurence Bloom of Ware and Bonita Springs, Florida. She also is survived by her youngest sister, Arlene Meyers, of Hamburg, NY; two other sisters, Evelyn Katt Wicks and Emma Zurbrick, died earlier. She leaves four grandchildren, Lauren and Stephen Bloom, and Renee and Byron Miltz; and five great-grandchildren. She also leaves a niece, Judie Sapio, and nephews David Klatt, Paul Meyers and Peter Meyers, and their families. She was born on July 26, 1907 in Buffalo, NY, to Christian and Emma Ruderisch. She attended public schools and grew up both in the city and at her familys summer farm in the nearby countryside. For several years she worked at the Buffalo Evening News, until her marriage to Henry H. Abrams in 1936. The new family moved to Hamburg, NY in 1941, where their daughters were raised and where her husband died in 1954. After his death, she returned to work outside the home and became a secretary for the Charlotte Avenue Elementary School in Hamburg, retiring in 1972. IN 1988 she moved to Amherst to be close to her daughter. Although she received the Amherst gold cane as its oldest citizen in August, 2008, and had become truly at home in New England, her loyalty to Buffalo and the Bills never wavered. In this she was as consistent as she was in her belief in hard work, close family relationships, old and new friendships and the respect we owe one another. Final arrangements are private, made by her family. In lieu of flowers, she would have most appreciated being remembered by donations in her name to the Amherst Survival Center, 1200 N. Pleasant, Amherst, MA 01002, or to the Salvation Army or any charity of the givers choice.