Gertrude Brandt

June 16, 1926 - April 28, 2020

Gertrude Brandt (Flaherty), 93, of Castleton Corners, passed away at home after a long illness, surrounded by her family, on April 28, 2020.

Gertrude was born in Astoria, Queens, New York on June 16, 1926, to Maria and Howard Flaherty. When she was 14, she met the love of her life, Henry Brandt. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, while Gertrude held a clerical job in the Signal Corps. They were married on September 21, 1947, and were together until Henry’s death on September 7, 2002.

Gertrude and Henry began their married life in Brooklyn, NY, where they raised their first four children. In 1960, they moved to Staten Island, where their two youngest children were born. When the children were in grade school, Gertrude worked as a school aide in P.S. 29 and then in Port Richmond High School, from which she retired in 1988.

Gertrude was a devoted and much loved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was a dedicated and talented knitter, making blankets for her great-grandchildren into her 90’s, and she also created beautiful needlepoint and petit point work. Gertrude loved reading, watching old movies, and playing bingo at St. Rita’s and Our Lady of Pity Churches. She made friends easily, and maintained those friendships , some for over 50 years. Many of those family friends became our “aunts” and “uncles”.

Gertrude did have two “vices”: Shopping and Atlantic City. Trips to Macy’s or Kohl’s were mini-vacations for her. Having had few indulgences as a De[ression-era child, she delighted in buying clothes, jewelry, and makeup, and was a pro at finding sales. She was always smartly and fashionably dressed, looking much younger than her actual age.

Gertrude also enjoyed church-sponsored day trips to Atlantic City. She enjoyed the camaraderie of the bus rides, but then loved to go off on her own to work the slot machines. She put aside a certain amount of money for each trip, and never lost more than what she started with. The purpose of the day was fun, not money.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband Henry; her daughter, Susan Toth; and her sister, Margaret Smith. She is survived by her children, Kathleen (Paula Lichtenberg) of San Francisco; Robert (Mary), Hank (Theresa), and Kelly (Christopher McMillen) of Staten Island; and Matthew ( Denise Hoffman) of Brooklyn; her son-in-law, John Toth of Wayne, NJ; and many nieces and nephews.

Gertrude also is survived by eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren (with two more to come this fall), all named here (with their partners) because they were her pride and joy, and they adored her: Alex Toth (Katie Beckman), Allison (Eric) Bosworth and son Will, Meghan (Tim) McVey, Danny (Trina) Brandt and daughter Emma Kate, Tim Brandt (Ali Zimmermann), Natalie Brandt (Justin Rosen), Kyle Brandt, Billy McMillen (Anna Kravtsov), Jimmy McMillen (Stephanie Cianci) and son Logan, Tommy McMillen (Laureta Sela), and Theo Brandt.

A private family funeral will be held at Clover Leaf Memorial Park, Woodbridge, NJ; a memorial mass and reception will be held later this year.