Gilberte "Jill" Marie Gurdal

Jill Gurdal, age 91, passed away from Alzheimer’s disease on December 6, 2023, at Valley Hill Health and Rehab in Hendersonville, NC. She was born in Brussels, Belgium in 1932. Jill was predeceased by her parents, Arthure and Augusta Provost, and her brother, Robert.

Survivors include her loving husband of 63 years, Simon Gurdal, and her nieces, Pascale and Dominique in Belgium. She and Simon moved to Hendersonville, NC in 2022, and they also lived in Asheville and Fairview, NC. since the early 1990’s. She was previously a resident of various cities in New Jersey, as well as in New York City, Montreal, Canada, Austria, Belgium and Great Britain.

Jill left Belgium as a child, during World War 2, with her family to escape the Nazi regime. After a harrowing journey across the English Channel, they were welcomed to Great Britain. Following the war, she returned to Belgium and attained a bachelor’s degree in German. As a true adventurer, she moved to Vienna to work with Luftansa Airlines. Some years later, she boarded a freighter headed to Canada. Another Belgian, Simon Gurdal, was also on the freighter. After a courtship onboard ship, they landed in Montreal and were married in 1960.

Jill was accomplished in four languages: English, French, German and Dutch. After moving from Canada to the US, she became a German and French teacher in Metuchen and Somerville, NJ.

Eventually, she and Simon retired to Fairview, NC. Being an accomplished weaver and knitter, she used her creative talents as a sales associate at Southern Highland Craft Guild and Mountain Made in Asheville, NC.

Jill leaves behind many friends in the Asheville area. She is remembered as being gracious, loving and a truly beautiful soul.

Garrett Funerals and Cremations is caring for the Gurdal family. A message of comfort may be left for family at www.garrettfuneralsandcremations.com