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DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc.

410 North Church Street

West Chester, Pennsylvania

GERTRUDE DALTON Obituary

DALTON GERTRUDE 'TRUDY' (nee O'HARA) Passed away peacefully on October 26, 2021 at the age of 84, surrounded by her family. Trudy and her late husband Jack were married for 57 years and had eight children: Patti Kelly, Meg Gingalewski (Mark), John (Kathy), Beth Chang (Paul), Michelle Ward (Jeff), Mark (Kathy), Maureen Hill (Steve), and Katie. She was sister to Kathy (Jim) Petrokubi, sister-in-law to Jean Marie Dalton and Mom-Mom to 17 grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents, Francis and Gertrude O'Hara, sister Terry Dwyer, brother Gerald O'Hara, and son-in-law Barry Kelly. Born in Upper Darby, she graduated from Cecilian Academy in 1954 before earning her nursing degree from Fitzgerald Mercy in 1957. She was the nurse manager at Jefferson Hospital operating room where she was on a team that pioneered the implementation of heart bypass procedures. She moved to West Chester after marrying Jack in 1960 and lived there the rest of her life. In addition to raising their family, Trudy continued working as a registered nurse, first at Camilla Hall and then for many more years in the O.R. at Chester County Hospital. She was a proud and active parishioner at St. Agnes Catholic Church and volunteered with the Barclay Nursing Home, West Chester Senior Center, and the Department of Aging as an ombudsman. A funeral will be held Saturday, November 6th at St. Agnes Catholic Church in West Chester with family receiving from 9:30-11:15 A.M. followed immediately by a Mass of Christian burial. Interment will then take place at St. Agnes Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Agnes Day Room Outreach Program and the West Chester Area Senior Center.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer from Oct. 29 to Oct. 30, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for GERTRUDE DALTON

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4 Entries

Kathy Sullivan, West Chester Area Senior Center

November 5, 2021

Our West Chester Area Senior Center staff and board team is so saddened to hear of Trudy´s passing. She and Jack were two of the first people I met when I arrived as the brand new executive director at the center in early 2010. Trudy was kind enough to share her retirement time with us at our welcome desk as well as by helping in so very many ways with our special events, fundraising, and so much more. I enjoyed her as a friend, shared a lot of laughs with her, and admired her dedication to Jack, your whole family, and our wonderful community. I am most fortunate to have known her and our thoughts are with you all especially at this time. She was truly a special lady!

Annette and Doug Billings

November 4, 2021

We are sharing in the loss of your amazing mother. A great friendship began when I started to work at CCH. Trudy really took me under her wing and also made sure we were included in dinners and social events to meet more people. And so started many shared times and Jack and Doug having lots of lunches together! We were so happy to have them as our first overnight guests when we moved to South Carolina. Please know that we will be with you in spirit on Saturday and in the days to come. We loved both of your parents too, Annette and Doug

Gratitude Arrangement

Jimmy Ruggiero

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Eternal Affection Arrangement- BASKET INCLUDED

Marie Bartling, Barb Bartling

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Memorial Events
for GERTRUDE DALTON

Nov

6

Visitation

9:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

St. Agnes Catholic Church

233 West Gay Street, West Chester, PA

Nov

6

Mass of Christian Burial

St. Agnes Catholic Church

233 West Gay Street, West Chester, PA

Funeral services provided by:

DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc.

410 North Church Street, West Chester, PA 19380

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