Gertrude Johanna (Gaffney) Gehlert

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Gertrude Johanna (Gaffney) Gehlert, who peacefully departed this life on September 14th, 2025 at the age of 91.  

Born on December 16, 1933, to Robert John “RJ” Gaffney and Mary Catherine “Molly” (Sherman) Gaffney in Attica, New York, Gertrude was the youngest (and last surviving) of seven children.  Gertrude loved and adored all her siblings but credited sister Patricia (sixteen years her senior) as having been most closely involved in her upbringing. 

As a young teenager, Gertrude’s father, “RJ,” surprised her with a Buckskin gelding named “Traveler,” which allowed her to ride all around town with her horsy friends.   She was eventually lettered as a pom-pom girl for the Attica High School.  In later years, Gertrude would entertain her sons (and grandchildren) with stories about her strict Catholic upbringing.  It was so amusing to hear about her father’s stern reaction to any young gentleman foolish enough to return his daughter home at an hour later than predicted.  RJ ensured that Gertrude’s dates never drove away with the same sense of confidence they had upon arrival.

On June 23, 1956, Gertrude married her love, Vernon Gehlert, at Saint Vincent’s Catholic Church in Attica, NY.  They honeymooned in the Poconos and later purchased a home near the beautiful Oatka Creek in Le Roy, NY.  There, they lovingly raised four adoring sons (George, Paul, Joe and Tom).  Something was always stirring at the Gehlert home, be it a lemonade stand, makeshift carnival or impromptu game of kick-the-can.  Friends will recall that Gertrude was quite fond of blue glassware, which could usually be seen adorning the windowsills. 

Midlife, once the boys were all school aged, Gertrude pursued her long-held dream of becoming a nurse.  She graduated at the top of her class from the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and then focused on private-duty cases for the physically challenged.  Gertrude’s favorite quote, cited upon graduation, was from the poem “Dreams” by Langston Hughes.  “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly.”   

In 1979, they moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where the boys furthered their education.  Tragically, pancreatic cancer took Vernon’s life in the Fall of 1988.  Gertrude, just 54 years old at the time, would never date again.

In the decades to follow, Gertrude found herself the subject of some very serious medical issues.  She endured all such challenges with grace, courage and a strong wit.  “Your mother is one sturdy Irish lady,” said the hospital recovery nurse upon realizing that her staff had forgotten to activate Gertrude’s opium drip following a rather invasive surgery three days prior.  Gertrude’s firm belief was that one must keep a healthy sense of humor to get through life.   

Gertrude spent her last eighteen years in Cottonwood, Arizona, living independently while close to family.   She lived a life of simple abundance and maintained her trademark optimistic nature.   Each morning, Gertrude would open the blinds to sunshine, water her houseplants and then sit down to enjoy a rich cup of black coffee.  She was always such a delight to engage in coffee talk.  Much of Gertrude’s alone time was spent pondering the family’s wellbeing – sometimes with rosary beads in hand.  In Gertrude’s eyes, her sons could do nothing wrong.  She was irrefutably their biggest and most enduring fan. 

Gertrude lived to an enviable age, privileged to have witnessed wonder in the eyes of so many tender-hearted grandchildren.   Despite life’s sorrows, Gertrude always had a compelling reason to get out of bed in the morning.  Some of the credit goes to her family, and some to her faith – but the rest can be attributed to the fact that Gertrude truly was one sturdy Irish lady.

In recent years, Gertrude preferred to end her phone calls to loved ones with the warm phrase, “Goodbye for now.”  So, with the same warmth, we hereby bid to our beloved matriarch, “Goodbye for now.”  

Gertrude is survived by her:

         Sons George (fiancé Angie Kochan), Paul (wife Terry Shea/Gehlert), Joseph and Thomas (wife Kathleen Kibler/Gehlert); 

         Grandchildren Nicholas Gehlert, Chloe Gehlert/Zuniga, Casey Shea, Karl Gehlert, Kristen Gehlert/Rourke, Greyson and Grant Gehlert;

         Great Grandchildren:  Jake Gehlert, Christian Contreras, Sofia and Zavier Zuniga; Niklaus and Leah Gehlert; Zoey, Levi, Aidan, Logan, Evelyn and Xavier Rourke (and two more on the way).

         Sister-in-Law Donna Gehlert/Russell.

         Nieces Kristin Badger/Bach, MaryEllen Gaffney/Castranova, Peggy Gaffney/Powers and Patricia Gaffney/Jensen; Susan Gaffney/Kuryla, Mary Kathleen Gaffney, Debbie Salyer/Coons and Jill Russell/Farley

         Nephews Richard, Steven and Mark Gaffney; Michael, William and John Gaffney and Timothy Russell.

         Godson Gregory Bell.

Gertrude is preceded in death by her parents and husband (noted above), as well as:

         Sisters Rosemary Gaffney/Badger and Patricia Gaffney/Smith;

         Brothers John, James, Robert and Joseph Gaffney;

         Daughter-in-law Gretchen Shutt/Gehlert;

         Nieces Margaret Badger/Magno, and Lucia Badger;

         Nephews James Badger, Thomas Gaffney, James Gaffney Jr., Robert Gaffney, Thomas Gaffney, Lawrence Gaffney.

A Catholic funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, located at 700 N. Bill Gray Road in Cottonwood, AZ. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Verde Valley Manor Clubhouse, 3400 E. Godard Road in Cottonwood, AZ.

Interment to occur beside Gertrude’s late husband, Vernon, in the summer of 2026, at West Middlebury Cemetery in Upstate New York.

Flowers/cards are being received at the home of Gertrude’s niece, Chloe (Gehlert) Zuniga, 4097 E. Pueblo RD, Cottonwood, AZ, 86324.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) or any cancer research/treatment foundation of your preference. 

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