Gretchen Gaensbauer Breese

Born in Pontiac, MI, on May 26, 1945. Loving wife of Robert L. Breese for 50 years. Pre-deceased by her parents Dr. Ferdinand and Christine Gaesnbauer.

Beloved mother of Stephanie L. Breese of Nevada City, CA; Darren R. (Sara Chesbrough) Breese of Burlington, VT; and grandmother to Beatrice Breese and Merritt Breese, both of Burlington, VT. She also leaves a sister, Carolyn Cardoza of Ann Arbor, MI and brother Dr. Ted (Deborah) Gaensbauer of Denver, CO.

Gretchen was a graduate of The University of Michigan with a degree in Education; and Oakland University with a Masters Degree in Education. She was a life loyal member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and continued her loving relationship with her sisters up until she died.

She spent 35 years as a teacher at Boulan Park Middle School in Troy, inspiring 6th and 7th graders in her geography/social studies classes to appreciate diverse cultures around the world.

Gretchen particularly relished her worldwide travel; she and Bob took many wonderful trips together, especially in her retirement years. She was an avid reader and enjoyed talking books with her friends in several book clubs in which she participated. Gretchen took delight in playing golf, tennis and bunco, baking her German ancestral cookies at Christmastime, seeing Broadway shows and listening to the symphony.

She was known to be the ultimate organizer, and she loved to express her creativity in designing photobooks, sewing, crafting and especially in researching her ancestry. She spent much time in her garden, growing beautiful flowers that filled her space with color and cheer. But mostly, she was proudest of making a loving home for her family.

Gretchen’s beautiful life was marked by service and contribution with memberships in Meadowbrook Women’s Club, The Assistance League, Rochester Garden Club, International Dining For Women, Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Sorority, and longtime service to her community’s Homeowners Association.

Gretchen was an elegant, gentle woman who always wished for happiness for her fellow human beings. She was sweet, smart, adventurous, thoughtful, quirky, and so much fun to be around. Her last decade was difficult as she slowly lost mobility with ALS. And yet she amazed everyone in her life with her admirable courage, grace, resilience and positivity despite the extreme challenges of her situation. She will be dearly missed.

Arrangements will take place on Tuesday, May 26 at Pixley Funeral Home in Rochester, MI at 322 West University Drive, Rochester, MI 48307. A 10:00 am viewing will be followed by a service of remembrance at 12:00 noon until 1:00 pm. A link to view the service via live stream will be available on this site the day of the service. Thereafter, a gathering of friends will assemble at the Breese Family home, 4211 Oak Tree Circle, Rochester (Oakland Twp.), MI.

Memorials may be made to ALS Association of Michigan in Gretchen’s name.