Agnes K. Gabrek

Agnes K. Gabrek, 82, passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, after years of battling tumors. Born May 1, 1932, in Dudweiler/Saar in Germany, she was the daughter of Leo and Anna (Ernst) Oestreich of Saarbruecken, Germany. Educated in Germany, she received her pediatric nursing degree, and then continued college to become a licensed social worker. Her first job was with Catholic Relief Services-NCWC in Frankfurt/M in the immigration department, where she met her husband, Fabijan, who was in the process of immigrating to the United States from his native country of Croatia. She followed him 7 months later to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they got married at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, and started their family. Her family was her pride – her grandchildren her delight. She was a true homemaker. She spent many hours volunteering for her church and in the schools of her children, all the way up to high school. She also loved reading books, both in English and German, as well as working on puzzles, doing her needlepoint and taking care of her plants and flowers. After her husband’s retirement, she thoroughly enjoyed traveling the world with him. She very much enjoyed translating the German Suetterlin script letters into English for many of her friends. She was a member of St. Therese Catholic Church, where her strong, supportive voice will be missed in the pews, as will be her friendliness in her neighborhood. Surviving is her husband of 57 years, Fabijan; her five children, Ann V. Burns (John) of Suwanee, GA, F. Pete (Elaine) Gabrek of LaGrange, IL, Mark A. (Lori) Gabrek of Noblesville, IN, Daniel F. (Leah) Gabrek of Fort Wayne, IN and John P. (Nicole) Gabrek of Hilliard, OH, her 16 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, her siblings Therese (Resi) Uwer of Saarbruecken, Germany, sister-in-laws, Sigrid and Traudel Oestreich of Germany, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Rosemarie Schlattner, and brothers, Wilhelm and Norbert Oestreich, all of Germany. Mass of Christian burial will be 11:00 am on Monday, November 3, 2014 at St. Therese Catholic Church, 2403 Lower Huntington Road with visitation 30 minutes prior. Visitation will also be from 1-4 pm on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Home for Funerals, 6810 Old Trail Road, Fort Wayne. Burial will be at the Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Therese Catholic Church, Masses, or Visiting Nurse.