Name: Forest Lawn West Funeral, Cremation Service & Cemetery
Address: Charlotte, NC

i been working on the smith familytree an i think her mama was  unice smith morgan [unice an my grandpaw george edward smith of mt pleasant nc were brothers an sisters ian the grandson of george edward smith sr [my name is mark smith can anyone in her family confirm this to me to my email heres a pix of me if we are kin thanks

Even though we never met person to person, I felt a close kinship to Gerry. Her first husband and I were both submarine veterans. She contacted me many years ago via the internet, asking me  something about submarines. We started communicating then and continued up until her passing. May God rest her soul.

To the family of Gerry Hostetler,  I met Gerry when I was the community police officer in Wildwood Green.  Gerry was always an inspriration and very dedicated to her community.  She will be missed.  Officer Mike Warren-CMPD retired

You and your gift of compassion and  words will be greatly missed.  A woman of massive empathy.

About sixteen years ago Gerry met and interviewed my dad, L.S. Stroupe and me at Southminster Retirement Community. Mom had passed that July in the health care center. Writing the obituary my sister , Mary Ellen, mentioned the unique position our mother carried during the WWII years for Arlington Hall as a "code breaker".  This item caught Gerry's eye.

Gerry did a wonderful work interviewing Dad and me. You know, this was  a stage of the grieving process. There were a lot of laughs and many tears shed- but  her article was so well written- my dad loved reading it over and over.To this day Gerry's visit and her Observer article are  highlights in my life.

Barbara Anne Stegall           Matthews, NC

Jeri, you are in our thoughts....We are so sorry for your loss.....

Lynne and Stu Cojac
Charlotte, NC

My condolences to to family.  May the God of love give you comfort at this time. RW

To her family, a very precious jewel has been taken from us; but we must trust that God knew what was best. May you find peace and comfort in God's love. I am truly saddened by her death, knowing that her writing will be no more. We never met but her columns drew me to correspond periodically by email. She brought comfort to families and firends, and a sense of knowing those she wrote about. I have missed her columns and a glimpse of a guest column always gave me a smile. May she find rest in the loving arms of our Savior.

Jerri - I know you miss your Mom and words cannot express my sympathy for your loss. My deepest compassion to Mr Mauney too - she was his best friend. The many times I was her nurse at Presbyterian are fondly remembered - she was full of stories and kindness. We'll miss you Gerry.

I forgot to sign the guest book at the Memorial & hopefully it's not too late. Gerry was the best friend, confidante & matriach of family & friends. She became a huge part of my life back in 1970 when I first arrived from Australia. She was my 2 youngest childrens' legal Godmother. When I asked her if she could raise my children in the event of something happening to their father or me, she replied,"Sure I would love to. Just don't do it too soon!" She later also became my 2 eldest children's God/Grandmother. A more generous & forgiving woman I have never met. Thank You God for allowing us to have had the privilege of her friendship & love. She is now in Your Presence.

Such a wonderful, kind and compassionate lady!! Whenever I saw her, she would smile and was very polite. She was very professional but so easy to talk to and talk with. When I came in contact with her at the Observer, I knew she would handle matters efficiently and get the job done properly. I will always remember her face and her pleasant demeanor. Respectfully submitted by Artemus Flagg, Ph.D., LPC - Charlotte.

I had talked with Gerry on several occasions about articles and found her to be very helpful. She will be missed.  Charles Gayle

I made a point of reading Gerry's beautiful obits in the Observer.  I never knew the people, but ended up wishing I had, thanks to Gerry's ability to find such interesting things to say.  I write a newsletter for our small church and have had occasions to write a memorial tribute for someone.  I always try to follow Gerry's example in showing that these lives were very special.  I will miss reading her work.  Thank you, Gerry.

We are so sorry to hear of the loss of Gerry. We will keep all the family in our thoughts and prayers.

Your neighbors,
Judy and Jerry Miller

About five months ago, Ms. Hostetler wrote a beautiful tribute to my mother, Christine Long Nance, for Qcitymetro.com, entitled "She was kind and giving". Ironically her obituary and my most recent memoriam to my mom both appear in the May 15th edition of the Charlotte Observer. Ms. Hostetler had all of the needed attributes (an attentive ear, a genuine, caring and compassionate spirit and a sense of humor and style) to write "human-interest" stories. I extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to her family. May she rest in peace knowing that her tributes have brought and continue to bring joy and elation to many loved ones' survivors.

Sincerely,

Our prayers are with you. May God support you and help you celebrate Gerry's life.

I have so many happy and fond memories when we worked together at Artestic Letter Shop in the 60's. I would not take any thing for these wonderful memories.RNP Gerry, Till we me meet again. Loved you Girl!

It was so sad to read of Gerry's death, but how like her to write her own obit! She understood how a thoughtful obituary was a tribute to a life, and as such shouldn't be considered merely a sad thing but treated as a celebration.
And so we're celebrating you, Gerry - your wonderful writing talent, your cheeriness, your sardonic sense of humor, the "frog" collection that you generously dispersed when you retired (I still have my frog) and all the gazillion memories that your Observer family has of you.

R.I.P. Gerry. Thank you for making the survivors feel their loss was worth more than the basic few parting words.You have inspired me to write my own obit.

I will miss her, like so many others, her talents and good nature and a remembered friend.  My condolences.  Jack Gilbert

Oh, Gerry, I rejoice with your blessed spirit, 'cause it's now as free as a bird. No pains, no limits. All those you loved so much and cared for so well, we know you're not that far away, in time or space -- and you've got WINGS!
So save the jokes and the great stories for the hug-in party that is sure to come. I only wish we could say "Goodbye for now" as beautifully, to you, as you did, to thousands in your time.

Love, and looking forward --
Dot

GERRY WILL BE MISSED BY ME AND MANY MORE BUT GOD HAS A PLAN.MY PRAYERS GOES TO HER HUSBAND AND ALL HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

I don't know whom to go to now for information about me and my family.
Gerry came into my life in the mid fifties when she and my now departed wife, Nancy, lived and worked together. She was with us when we married and with me when Nancy passed away. Gerry knew more about me and my family than I did. She kept things on paper and in her "memory bank". Even before there were computers. She was close to us all these years. We will surely miss her.
Our condolences to John and all her family. You are in our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Gerry I was counting on YOU to do MY obit...now what will I do? I never missed your personal stories and know what they meant to their surviving family members.  You made each subject seem like a Star, and now you have joined them in their heavenly constellations.  God bless your dear family, for your humor and good nature will be missed.  My prayers are for all of them.

Gerry was a newsroom original, one of my favorite characters in any newsroom, and truly one of a kind. To her family, you should know (and probably already do) that Gerry had such a positive impact on so many people -- a kind word here, a salty joke there, the calm eye in the middle of a storm. The world needs more people like Gerry, and unfortunately we've lost the original.

Working next to Gerry, I'd often listen to her interviewing folks for her columns -- she was terrific at what she did. She could draw people out and have them laughing over memories of their recently passed loved ones. That was something special - and so was Gerry! 
  My sympathies to Gerry's family.

Sounds like she was a wonderful person who is now getting the chance to meet some of the people she wrote about.

I am so far away and so broken hearted that I missed seeing Gerry last summer. The world has lost a great friend. I am so thankful that I was fortunate to be her friend. I just regret that I lived in LA when we became friends and I could not visit her more often. I will miss her always. Godspeed, Dear Gerry, I am sure angels are greeting you today. Judy Rozzelle

Gerry wrote about my sister and I still cherish the article. I read it often and it makes me smile. Thank you, Gerry, for the many articles that made us smile. When I read about other people, it felt as if I knew them. What a talent she had! God bless you!

I met Gerry when I went to work for Virginia Paper 55 years ago. She became my big sister at work. I loved her from day one and I will miss seeing her smile and her emails. She is in a better place and I have been blessed to have called her a friend. Jim

One of the all-time greats who helped me and made me laugh more than anyone. Don't you know she's already cutting up with John York!

In all the years I worked at the Charlotte Observer, Gerry was an anchor in the newsroom, the voice on the other end of the line when I called, the friend with a joke as I came and went. In 2001, when my mother died, Gerry wrote the obituary, and her respectful, insightful approach went a long wait toward helping ease the pain. Thank you Gerry, for everything.

I forgot to the Liver Mush and grits at the little Grill UP from you....WOW THE LAUGHS WE HAD. i'M SURE they will miss your smile and crazyness we came up with
Betty

Gerry and I have had a good time being friends.You 10 and me 8. She was a delight to know. From painted nails to champagne pedicures. Give each other  advice that only two old lady's could come up with. We never got tired of talking "Old Times" people we went to school with and Harding Lunches.Praying for her sick puppy, riding  the river road in her golf cart. honking the horn at every one we pass. Her FAMOUS birthday parties, fire work and all the triming thanks to Sally.Laughing at our little girl secret to each other, now that we have MATURED! Oh how I will miss you, thankful I got to say I love you and say good by. 'til I see you again....
Gerry, You ask me to tell GOD to come and get you and he did. I'm sorry we did not make the trip together, but in the not so distant future " I'll Be Seeing You"
You life time friend .
Betty Treadway Parker

What a wonderful lady who brought words of comfort when many of us lost our loved ones.   I pray she is getting to meet those dear souls in Heaven today!

Rest in Peace Gerry; it was a pleasure to have worked with you.

I was very sad to hear of Gerry's passing.  I always read and enjoyed her columns but the one I liked most was the one she wrote about my 28 year old brother who died suddenly.  She had a great talent and I am truly grateful she shared it with us.  My thoughts and prayers are with her family.

Gerry wrote about my grandmother and I still cherish the article.  I read it often and it makes me smile.  Thank you, Gerry, for the many articles that made us smile.  When I read about other people, it felt as if I knew them.   What a talent she had!  God bless you!

My condolences to Jeri, Big John and the rest of Gerry's family. Having worked with Gerry for years in the newsroom, there's so much I could say... I'll never forget her wicked sense of humor & stories; and her always being there for me like family. She was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.

Bless you Gerry, it was SO refreshing as I walked into the 4th floor news room to be greeted by you.

 I had the privilege of knowing Gerry through her writing a special obituary for my mother in 2000 and also for two wonderful friends in 2005 and 2007.  I sent what I had written to Gerry and she "gerried" it to perfection!  We talked briefly on the phone right after she left the Observer and she and I both decided we had the "death and obituary" gene.  
She now knows the secrets behind the stories she wrote and I bet she is writing them in her beautiful prosaic style.
Shakespeare is meeting his counterpart!

 Again, her life lives on through her celebrations of life writing about death.....

My whole family will miss, you. You were such a good friend to us all,

Oh the laughter we shared during our 30 years at The Observer! Gerry was wise, compassionate and hilarious. The Grande Dame of the Newsroom. My sincere condolences to Gerry's grieving family.

Such a beautiful lady.  I did not know her personally; however, she was a jewel!

Gerry was truly a remarkable lady; Lee and I will miss her wit, charm, and smile and her devotion to her family. So sorry for your loss, Jeri and Bobby. Rest in peace, Gerry....

I enjoyed Gerry's column so much.  She wrote a beautiful tribute to an old friend, and after that we became e-mail and Facebook buddies.  She will be greatly missed.  Now who is gonna write beautiful tributes when we go home?  See you one day soon, Gerry

Big John,Jeri,Bobby and Sasha; you all have my heartfelt prayers, I know a big  void is with you, but just remember all the great, wonderful memories. Gerry has touched so many lives and has been loved by all. She was like a big sister  to me.  We will all miss her dearly, but we know she is still surrounded with loved ones even now. We love you all. God bless

With Gerry's passing, an era ends in Charlotte. I will always be grateful for her cheer and good humor in the newsroom, and for her encouragement when times were tough for her colleagues.
Godspeed, Gerry. I'll publish that book someday, just because you told me I could.

She had a sense of humor.  Once I pointed out to her that she was ghost in her e-mail address.  We both thought that was kind of appropriate.  She was a real person who cared about real people however.

I'm just a reader who found her story and was touched by her words.  May God bless you and keep you, ma'am!

I read your  obituary in the Charlotte Observer which saddened me as I always enjoyed the way you brought a quality story to each person who passes who sometimes is not in “Who's Who” yet still lived a life well measured and notable.

Gerry believed that everyone had a story and everyone deserved a remembrance. She knew how to ask the right questions to evoke a memory or an anecdote from loved ones who were grieving. She made them think about the life, not the death.  So Jeri and Bobby and John, hold fast to the vision of Gerry sitting at her computer, phone to ear, saying something like: "Oh that's good. That will make a good column. Keep talking dear."  I am proud I knew Gerry. She is a role model of mine for perseverance.

Goodbye to one of my most favorite people of all time. I'm gonna miss that amazing wit and beautiful smile. Rest in peace lovely lady.

Gerry was a first-class human being and journalist. In her hands, there were no "throw-away" stories -- or people.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Ms. Hostetler on a few occasions as I thought of family and friends whose lives deserved her special touch at remembrance.  She was always kind, and yes, southernly and matronly, but a reporter as well, a good reporter.   

She asked for details and sources, bits and pieces to tell the story of a life.  Her stories never disappointed.  They often  tugged at heartstrings, not due to sadness, but  rather due to celebration of a life.  After reading her stories, the reader often wished  that he had had the pleasure of knowing the subject of the article.

I thanked Ms. Hostetler when I spoke with her and I thank her now.

She will be sorely missed.

Gerry Hostetler will be greatly missed for any one who knew of her stories about their family and friends. Gerry wrote a wonderful story about my sister's life and times in Charlotte, Maureen 'Moe' Ann O'Connell Funderburk in July 1998, and many other lives with so much heart. Really one of the best assets of The Charlotte Observer has ever had and with be greatly missed. Rest in Peace, no more deadlines said to meet.

I worked with Gerry for a number of years and mourn her passing. She was a very fine lady.

Gerry was a great lady, who tackled an often-difficult job with great style and sympathy. Godspeed, Ms. Hostetler...

OBITUARY

Geraldine S. Hostetler

July 7, 1935 – May 13, 2012

McEwen Funerals & Cremations at Forest Lawn West

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