Florence Betty Gottschalk Gewecke

Florence Betty Gottschalk Gewecke ATGLEN, Pa. - Florence Betty Gottschalk Gewecke passed away March 20, 2008, two days after her 96th birthday, after a short illness. At the time of her passing, Mrs. Gewecke was living with her granddaughter, Mrs. Dana Bello, her husband, Joseph, and their four children, in Atglen, Pa.

Mrs. Gewecke was born March 18, 1912, raised in Hoboken and was one of eight siblings. Her twin brother, Douglas, died in infancy. She attended Hoboken public schools, worked at a variety of jobs and also assisted in managing her family business of a boarding house. She married her husband Fritz on May 5, 1940, and they raised their three children at their home at 31 Delafield Ave. in Lyndhurst. She retired from AT&T in 1967, after a career of 25 years.

Mrs. Gewecke's interests included listening to music and dancing, reading about political issues, the stock market and current events, assisting with the Salvation Army charity work and participating in Rainbows and the Eastern Star. However, as a devoted wife and mother, her overall priorities were helping her children and their families, and taking care of her home. After her husband passed away, Mrs. Gewecke continued living in Lyndhurst until she moved to Smithville, with her daughter Meredth and her husband, Daniel, where she resided for several years, until her final move to Atglen, Pa. with her granddaughter, Dana Brown Bello and her family.

Mrs. Gewecke was predeceased by her husband, Fritz Carl Gewecke, in May, 1985.

Mrs. Gewecke is survived by her three children, Florence Joy Duff and her husband, Robert, of Venice, Fla., her son Walter Robert "Bob" Gewecke and his wife, Deborah, of Frankford and her daughter Meredith Linda Brown and her husband, Daniel, of The Villages, Fla. She is also survived by her nephew, Walter Gottschalk and his wife, Pamela, of Orange, Va. Mr. Gottschalk is the son of the late Colonel Walter Gottschalk and his wife, Reny, formerly of Hoboken and Virginia.

In addition to her children, Mrs. Gewecke, or Grandma Tudy as she was known, was grandmother to seven grandchildren. They are Robert Duff of Atglen, Pa., Brian Duff and Scott Duff, both of Venice, Fla., Gavin Gewecke of Frankford, Dana Brown Bello of Atglen, Pa., Gregory Brown of Clifton and Steven Brown of Chatham. Mrs. Gewecke was also fortunate to be great-grandmother to eighteen great-grandchildren. They are Sean, Ryan, Shannon, Caitlin and Rose, children of Robert Duff of Atglen, Pa.; Lance and Faryn Duff, children of Brian Duff; Todd and Nicholas Duff, sons of Scott Duff, all of Venice, Fla.; Christopher and Tyler Brown, twin sons of Gregory Brown of Clifton; Daniel, Matthew, Cassidy and Madison, children of Dana Brown Bello of Atglen, Pa.; and Jake, Evan and Caden Brown, all sons of Steven Brown of Chatham.

A private family memorial service was held for Mrs. Gewecke at the First Presbyterian Church of Sparta on August 6, 2008. Pastor Sherry Karasik presided over the service. Both she and her husband are interred at the church's columbarium in the Sparta cemetery.

Due to Mrs. Gewecke's love of children and strong belief in the importance of education, memorial donations may be sent to the Educational Trust Fund at the First Presbyterian Church, 32 Main St., Sparta, NJ 07871. Checks should be made out to the First Presbyterian Church with a notation directing them to The Educational Trust Fund.