Gertrude Whitsell

Gertrude June Whitsell, 97, passed peacefully from this life Feb. 21, 2022, at Villa Manor Care Center in Lakewood, Colo. Gertrude was known to family lovingly as “Sissie,” and to friends as Gertie.

She was born June 5, 1924, the first child of Simeon and Philena Varner. Her childhood in Washington, Pa., near Pittsburgh, was filled with fun times with neighbors and large family gatherings that took place nearly every weekend. She enjoyed being a big sister to her brother Clair, who was six years younger. Her first job as a teen was at a local dairy, where the owner tried to convince her to like whole milk, but she insisted only chocolate milk was acceptable. Her love of chocolate milk lasted her entire life.

As a young adult in the early 1950s, Gertrude and her family moved from Pennsylvania to St. Petersburg, Fla.  Her brother Clair bought a house not too far away and began raising his own family. While she enjoyed the warm weather and beach outings, she was never a swimmer, refusing most of her life to go in the water after being pushed forcefully into a swimming pool as a teenager. She was happy to simply sit on the white sand beach and watch others frolic in the water.

Gertrude met and married Roger Whitsell in 1963. They moved into a home only two doors down from her parents. Weekends were filled with family gatherings remembered fondly. Gertrude and Roger never had any children of their own, but Gertrude became almost a mother to her brother’s four children, Chris, Cynthia, Debbie and Cathy. She worked in accounts at a local bank, and well into her 90s, still balanced her checkbook by hand without a calculator.

After her father passed away suddenly at 58, she and Roger took in her mother Philena, and she lived with them for the rest of her life. They moved from Florida to Colorado in 1968, settling in the Denver suburb of Lakewood. Not long after, Clair and his second wife also moved to Lakewood. After her nephew Chris moved to Colorado in 1984, Gertrude loved getting together with his young and growing family and hosting her nieces and their children from out of state.

Gertrude and her mother were active members of Alameda Hills Baptist Church in Lakewood, and later Ken Caryl Baptist Church in Littleton. She taught Sunday school to preschoolers, and crocheted afghans for those in need and caps for newborns to keep their heads warm. She seemed to always be working on a new crochet project for many years.

Gertrude established wonderful relationships with everyone she met. She maintained friendships with her neighbors for decades and a strong community with her church family. Her friends loved interacting with her, as she was so open, outgoing and friendly. When she got together with friends, there would be laughs and laughs!

Gertrude had an adventurous spirit. She and Roger would often go on day-long road trips around Colorado, grilling hot dog lunches on a hibachi Roger carried in the car trunk. After Roger passed away in 2001, she stayed in close touch with her extended family and friends, enjoying road trips and special occasions such as out-of-town weddings. She was such a good sport, happy to experience new things (like a motorcycle ride on her 80th birthday) and join in whatever fun activities were happening. Everyone loved having her along!

Gertrude lived a wonderful long life. Last June, she enjoyed her 97th birthday at the home of her nephew Chris and family, where she was celebrated as the queen that she was, with her favorite menu of pepperoni pizza, chocolate cake and pink wine.

She spent her last year at Villa Manor Care Center and passed peacefully on February 21, 2022. Her passing was mourned by all the wonderful staff there who had come to know and love her.

Gertrude will be forever missed. She was a bright and shining light in this world, and she deeply touched those who were lucky to have known her.

She is survived by her nephew Chris Varner (Lisa Greim) of Arvada, Colo.; three nieces, Cynthia Paulson (John Shoemaker) and Debbie (Jim) Rivenburg, all of Tallahassee, Fla., and Cathy (Demetrius) Galfas of Lilburn, Ga.; seven great-nieces and nephews, six great-great-nieces and nephews, and many friends.

Gertrude Whitsell’s memorial service and Celebration of Life will take place at 11 a.m. Thurs., March 31, 2022, at Ken Caryl Baptist Church, 8395 W. Ken Caryl Ave., Littleton, Colo. She will be laid to rest at Memorial Park in St. Petersburg, Fla., alongside her parents and brother. Horan & McConaty are in charge of local arrangements.