Phyllis Gabel

PHYLLIS (TISH)

WERTMAN GABEL

Phyllis Gabel (Tish), age 82, passed away on Saturday, November 14, 2009 in her home in Durham, CA surround by her family. She was born on July 28, 1927 in Hanover Township, PA to James and Helen Wertman.

She married her husband, Edward Nelson Gabel in March of 1950. Tish attended Aberdeen High School in Maryland, earned an Associates in Arts degree at Delta College, attended University Center, Michigan; and majored in pattern-making and hat construction at Butte Community College.

She had many jobs throughout her life working for Saginaw Safety Council, Saginaw Public Library, St. Mary's School of Nursing Librarian, Saginaw County Child Development, Congregational Church of Chico, and as the Proofreading Wizard. She lived in many different locations: Hanover Township, PA, Elmira, NY, Baltimore, MD, Saginaw, MI, and finally Chico, CA. Tish was a member of the Congregational Church of Chico, Soroptimist International-Chico, Church Women United, and Bookworms Reading Club. She was an avid reader, skilled seamstress, talented hat maker, and an accomplished knitter. Her idea of camping was the nearest motel. Gardening? Not her thing! In spite of her personal lack of interest in activities in the great outdoors, Tish raised four children, who are, to varying degrees, swimmers, campers, hikers, and/or gardeners. She made music education available to them (also not her forte) and introduced them to "local" history, parks, and museums, whether the vacation locale be Niagara Falls, Tampa, FL, New York City, San Francisco, Oroville, or Watkins Glen, NY. In her post-retirement years, Tish expressed an interest in two things that she never got to check off her "bucket list" ­ to view the Everglades from an air-boat and ride in a hot air balloon.

Tish is survived by her three daughters, Peggy Somerville (Glen) in Bradenton, FL, Linda Gabel in Durham, CA, Lizbeth MacCord (Bob) in Manton, Michigan; son, Edward Gabel (Teresa) in San Jose, CA; nine grandchildren, Holly Gabel (fiancé Mitch McLaughlin) Paradise, CA, Beau Somerville, FL, Nelson Buckley, MI, Amanda Lunsford (Leonard), Durham, CA, Abbey Buckley, MI, Laura Clapper (Victor), FL, Anna, Leah, and Aaron Gabel in San Jose, CA; four great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Davianna, Caleb, Zachary; nieces and nephews, Mary Kay Witheridge, MI, Helen Pannepacker, PA, and Don Craumer, MD, Jay Witheridge, MI; and special friends Gloria (Ron) Stachowiak, Bay City, MI. She is predeceased by her husband, Edward N. Gabel; sisters, Florence Spect of PA, Mildred Craumer of Baltimore, MD, and Janice Witheridge of Saginaw, MI.

"When you come to the edge of all the light, and you know you are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen: Either there will be something solid to stand on, orŠYou will be taught how to fly." ­ author unknown.

A viewing for Tish will be held Friday, November 20, 2009 at Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be at the Congregational Church of Chico on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 2 p.m. at 1190 East First Ave. Chico, CA 95926. A family graveside service will be held at Elk Creek Cemetery in Woodhull, NY at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Congregational Church of Chico or the Soroptimist International Chico Scholarship Fund in care of Newton-Bracewell Funeral Homes. You may share your thoughts and memories of Phyllis (Tish) online at nbcfh.com.