Vera Eunice Gazda

Vera Eunice (Atkinson) Gazda, of Fredericksburg, Virginia was born in Beallsville, Ohio to the late Forrest and Fern Atkinson in 1934. She passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2020 at the age of 85, from respiratory complications due to COPD.

Vera grew up on a working farm. She spent her youth taking care of the daily and seasonal tasks associated with farm living. As a child, she received the nickname “Toodlesocks” which was later shortened to “Tootie” (and her family of origin in Ohio referred to her by that name ever since). At 18, she packed her few possessions and moved to the city to find paid work, learn new skills, and gain her independence. She found everything she was looking for, and more.

At age 22, Vera married James Gazda of Martins Ferry, Ohio. Her relationship with James was the catalyst for her conversion to the Roman Catholic Faith, to which she remained faithful until her death. Together, Vera and James raised six children and were married for more than 31 years, until his death in 1988.

Affectionately dubbed “Big V” by James, Vera embraced that name and was referred to as “Big V” and “V” by her friends over the years. She prided herself in always looking her very best—from her color-coordinated outfits to her hair, accessories, makeup, and lipstick. She loved anything purple, Neil Diamond, Chanel No. 5, clogging, traveling, singing in the choir, Yahtzee, crushing opponents at Scrabble, Johnny Carson, country music, strong coffee, home-cooked meals, cocktails, slots, and interacting with people from all walks of life.

As a wife and mother of six, Vera stayed occupied with housekeeping, meal preparation, and managing daily tasks for her family. She established friendships with her neighborhood peers, joined various clubs, volunteered at the local hospital, and sang in the church choir. After the children were grown, Vera took a part-time job in a furniture store to stay active in the community. She moved to Florida in 1995 and in 2015 returned to Northern Virginia to spend more time with her family.

Vera was preceded in death by her husband, James, parents, Forrest and Fern, and brother Guy.

She is also survived by six children, Rhonda Gazda of Frederick, MD, James Gazda and wife Antoinette of Danville, VA, Marsha Davis and husband Jefferson of Gordonsville, VA, Julie Hardesty of Palm Bay, FL, Karen Kangas and husband Matthew of Stafford, VA and Lisa Radocha and husband Frank of Manassas, VA. Rhonda, Marsha, Jimmy, Julie, Karen and Lisa finished in a six-way tie as her favorite child.

Vera also leaves behind 12 grandchildren, Heidi, Christina, Benjamin, John, Alexander, Rachel, James, Marsha, Monica, Maxwell, William, and Samuel; 6 great-grandchildren Andrew, Queenie, Frederick, Alexandra, Robert, and Jack; brother Floyd Atkinson and wife Martha of Beallsville, OH; sister-in-law Bessie Atkinson of Wooster, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She will be interred in Quantico National Cemetery alongside James on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. The family will celebrate her life at a private memorial service later this year.

Her full obituary may be seen at www.mullinsthompsonstafford.com