Thelma Louise Giesser

To Thelma Louise Giesser, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Thelma, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Thelma really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Her parents were Josephine and Joseph Quina. Thelma was raised in Pensacola, Florida. Even as a child, Thelma had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

Always a good playmate, Thelma was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Thelma managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Thelma was raised with seven siblings. Marguerite, Irene, Julian, Alvin, June, Lena and Bertha.

All of Thelma's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Thelma experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in acting ,was a beauty queen & was in choir. She was involved in community service. In her spare time she liked to read and do crossword puzzles. Thelma's memorable achievements included winning the national spelling bee contest and being a beauty queen

Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Thelma was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Thelma simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Thelma, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Thelma's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Thelma graduated from Pensacola High School in 1936. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was College Prep English. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Mrs. Anderson.

Thelma reveled in her college years, where her imagination could run free. She was viewed by many of her classmates as being a creative, artistic person. Thelma was usually found at the center of things, whether it was during class or in extracurricular activities. She was a jovial person who loved to share her passion for fun with others. But for Thelma, life was not a case of all play and no work. Thelma relished the task of putting her imagination to work in class. She was able to discover new and different ways of answering problems and creating unusual and different solutions. She attended Florida State. Her favorite courses were English. Her favorite professor was Dr. Brooks. Thelma was a member of the debate team, wrote poetry and song lyrics.

Thelma never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Thelma to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Thelma was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. While growing up, her family were her best friends. Thelma loved sharing life and having her home filled with family and friends.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Thelma very easy to approach. On June 4, 1938 Thelma exchanged wedding vows with Arthur Arlo Giesser they eloped and married in the Catholic faith later in the year in Pensacola, Florida. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Thelma had the ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Thelma was blessed with eight children Arlene, Art, Linda,Carl, Chris, Judy, Stanley and Debbie. She was also blessed with eight grandchildren Bert, Eddie, Shelley, Kim, Robin, Kelly, Ryan and Jared and eleven great grandchildren. Thelma had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Thelma's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Thelma had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Thelma was a real “people person. ” She had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Thelma liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Thelma was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Thelma's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Thelma as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was a homemaker and Mother as well as a community volunteer.

Thelma enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Thelma liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were singing, dancing and playing card games. She performed sometimes with her children's band "The Giesser Gang."

Thelma felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Thelma loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Thelma relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Thelma never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Thelma played baseball. In her college years, Thelma continued to stay active by swimming. Recreational sports included swimming and bowling. Thelma was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were football, she loved the Chargers.

Thelma had an endless appetite for new and different activities. She was always ready to join in the fun and add her flair and energy to an organization. Because of her personality, her humor, and her ability to get along with everyone, Thelma's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which she belonged. In high school and in college Thelma was a member of the choir and acted in plays.

A generous person who often wore her heart on her sleeve, Thelma often found herself involved in activities she deemed important. She was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made her a natural volunteer. Outspoken in her beliefs, yet tactful in her dealings with others, Thelma was a member of several community groups, serving on committees for the little theater.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Thelma recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member of the Catholic Church.

Living life in the fast lane suited Thelma just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included many trips to Europe, cruises to the Mediterranean and the Vatican.

Thelma passed away on September 1, 2010 at Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego, California of Acute Pulmonary Failure. She is survived by her children Arlene, Linda, Carl, Judy,and Debbie,grandchildren Bert, Shelley, Kimberley,Robin, Kelly, Ryan & Jared. Visitation was held at Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 4-7 PM. Funeral Service were held on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 3:00 pm. Thelma was laid to rest in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery Monday, September 13, 2010.

Thelma brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Thelma Louise Giesser lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.

Arrangements under the direction of Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary, San Diego, CA.