I am so sorry for your loss Nadine. I remember your Mom's kindness whenever I visited your home and saw her at the bread factory where she worked . My sincere condolences to everyone in Roshak family.
My prayers for peace her departed soul & may she rest in peace

Ray, David John, and Nadine, how do I begin to tell you how sorry I am for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers. As neighbors, we were closer than most families...you were a part of our family. I feel like I helped raise you kids and you were so good to my children when I visited my Mom. (We lost her several years ago unexpectedly and miss her so much.)You will forever be in my prayers.

May she Rest in Peace in the arms of our Dear Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ !!!!

My heart was broken when I received a letter from Ray telling me of Gay death. She was like a mother to me for many years I spend most days at her house. She taught me so much I still remember her teaching me how to iron and clean. I had the pleasure to talk to her last year for a short time; I will never forget her or her beautiful family. Ray, Ray Jr. David John and Nadine I am so sorry for your loss I hope one day we will see each other again. All my Love Lynda Moffo Kline.

My sincerest condolences to the Roshak family! Gaynell was a wonderful woman! I had the privilege to know her and she was the sweetest woman! Love and prayers for Ray, Dave, and Nadine.

My Dearest Mother, it was one month ago tonight that you honored me by sharing your last breath with me. It was one month ago tonight that I was honored to be by your side as you went home to Heaven. You were and will always remain my best friend. My life was inspired by you. You have always been a lady to be admired, treasured and treated as a precious jewel.
I will miss our vacations. I miss and will continue to miss your beautiful smile. Your "Hi Sweetie" when I came in the door.  Your phone calls asking me "Do you want to go out and play in the snow?" Our ritual of you standing at the front window waving goodbye as I drove off tapping the breaks three times to signal to you--l Love You. Your never ending, unwavering and unconditional love. Your friendship.
My heart remains broken tonight in a million pieces; but you have raised me with your strength. And it is with that  strength and God's help that I will put it back together again.
I will forever talk to you everyday. I will forever see the beauty in this world through the outlook you taught me,
You were, are and will remain the most impressive and amazing woman that I have ever met.
I am happy that you are now in Heaven. The only place that is beautiful enough to deserve you... in the care of the only one Great enough to have created you and to have called you home. I am grateful for each day. I was blessed because I was loved by you.
My Dearest God: please take great care of my Mother and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me the privilege of being her daughter.
I say to you now, Mom, the last thing you wrote to me, "My love for you will never die."

One of my very favorite memories is Gaynell offering me a Bologny sandwich over at the house on King street,   I hadn't eaten bologna since I was a child.    My response was "no, thank you"   Gaynell said "oh Honey, let me make you one of mine"  I did, and it was the best I had ever had.   It was just the Love and kindness of this woman that always kept me in aahhh of her.     Needless to say, I went on to have more than one that day. :)   I am a lucky person to have been in Gay's presence.  She came to find this lost sheep and bring her home so she would be lost no more.   .   Thank you Mrs, Roshack.

Excerpt from the eulogy:

On behalf of the Roshak family, I'd like to thank all of you for coming this morning.  We know that you have taken time from your very busy day… your busy schedule to be here.  Many of you have taken time away from work to be with us.  To the Keadle family, thank you for starting your day so early this morning to drive the long distance that you did.  Words cannot adequately say “thank you” to all of you for being here.

Ray Sr., you married a lady who was committed and one who was loyal to her family.  Ray Jr., David, Nadine… your mom was an inspiration.  Thank you to each of you for allowing me the privilege to be in front of you to synopsize a life that is certainly worth more than just a couple of pages.  Forgive me if I choke up a little or if I stop with tears… because Gaynell is truly a lady that I love.  

She IS my mother-in-law.  I emphasize “is” because she influenced me greatly… to the point that she will forever remain alive in the way that I will approach my daily activities.  I met her more than 23 years ago when I began dating Nadine.  She welcomed me into her home… and she welcomed me into her family… the very first day that I met her.  From the start, she treated me like her own son.  Mom Roshak loved life, even to the very last days that she was aware of the goings on around her.  Daily, she acknowledged God's wonders.  She loved fall.  She loved spring and she loved winter.  She loved the snow and she was blessed one last time to see snow fall just a couple of weeks ago…. 

Mom Roshak and I had a very special relationship with each other.  We teased each another just about every time we saw each other.  Years ago, she and I made a bet… I have absolutely no idea today what the bet was about.  But… the loser was to buy the winner a vanilla ice cream cone from Dairy Cream.  She lost… and… she NEVER paid her bet.  So, every time I saw her, I would remind her that she welched on our bet. One day while teasing her about not paying her bet, she said, “okay, honey, “come on.  Let's go get an ice cream cone.”  So, Nadine and I, with mom-in-law, got into our car and we went to Dairy Cream.  After we ordered… and while we waited in line in the drive-thru… Mom Roshak said, “oh, honey, I forgot my purse at home… so, you're going to have to buy the ice cream today!”

So, I have to tell you… Mom Roshak's focus on this earth was her family.  She worked hard for her children… often times just trying to make “ends meet.”  She worked at various jobs while living in Ohio and Michigan.  In 1980, Mom Roshak moved to Denver.  She used to reminisce and tell me about the various jobs that she worked after moving to Denver; she eventually landed on her feet when she got a job at Entenmann's bakery….  She retired from Entenmann's bakery as a quality control inspector.  She often reminisced with me about her career at Entenmann's—she loved what she did and she was proud of the product that she approved.  Mom Roshak worked long hours, often getting off at 1, 2, 3'oclock in the morning.  Every night before she left work, she would call our house and tell Nadine that she was going home.  I often answered the phone, because I wanted to talk with her.  You could hear the exhaustion in her voice...  but you would never know how tired she really was… because of this incredibly positive attitude that she had about her.  It didn't matter to Mom Roshak if it was pouring rain or blowing snow—she had an incredible work ethic.  She went to work—because… that's what she did for her family.  

Mom Roshak traveled a very difficult road in her life, but you'd never know it.  She was a 48-year breast cancer survivor.  Over the years, doctors were amazed when they learned that she had survived a double mastectomy so many years ago.  Along with breast cancer, she battled toxemia, diabetes, emphysema, C.O.P.D., congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and this “little thing” called Shingles.  You'd never know it, though.  She never complained.  Instead, she always wore a smile and she would always say, “I'm okay, honey.” 

Just last month, Mom Roshak had the doctors baffled.  On a couple of different occasions, medical personnel from the hospital called Nadine and told her that they were taking her mom back to ICU.  They told Nadine that she might think about getting the family to the hospital because her mom was in trouble.  Once the doctors in the intensive care unit would stabilize her condition, Mom Roshak would tell them that she was “fine.”  She had one doctor especially baffled… he couldn't figure it out.  All of the medical data—the blood count, the heart rate, etc. said that Mom Roshak's body was shutting down; but you'd never know it, because all she would say was, “I'm fine, honey.”  She knew how to battle…  I told this to David John this week.  She had battled all of her life.  That's what she knew.  She did it for her family.

As she lay in her bedroom on her deathbed, I had the privilege to be alone with her on many occasions… and I talked with her.  The hospice care experts told us that Mom Roshak could hear us and that she could understand… if we talked to her.  So I did.  I shared a memory from when I was a little boy.  I told her of a conversation that I remembered having with MY mom many years ago.  I remembered that my mom once told me that she had prayed and hoped that her boys would grow up to marry ladies… and not just women.  I was a little boy, so I didn't understand what that meant.  She explained to me that there was a difference.  My mom mostly described for me what a lady is—and not necessarily in these words did my mom describe the difference, but… essentially, it was the same:  She told me that a lady is a distinguished title that was earned.  She told me that a lady is well-mannered… proper in her thoughts… proper in her behavior.  She said a lady is charming … a lady is graceful.  And as I sat with my mom-in-law, I told her that God had answered my mom's prayers.  I told her that my mom's boys had all grown up to marry wonderful and beautiful ladies, including her daughter.  I thanked my mom-in-law.  I thanked her because I believed that she, too, had earned that distinguished title of being a “lady.” Mom Roshak was truly a lady.  I told her that I was proud of her and that I was proud of the life that she lived.  A life that was exemplary in all facets.  A true lady--for her family.  She smiled.

I want to end this morning by reading a very short verse from Proverbs 31 that I think truly embodies the essential characteristic that is Gaynell Roshak.  In verse 25, King Solomon wrote: “Strength and honor are her clothing.  She shall rejoice in time to come.”

Mom Roshak, I love you and I will miss you.

Our deepest sympathy to all your family.....Gay was such a lovely lady.  We send hugs and prayers in this time of sorrow.

So sorry to hear about the loss of your sweet mom.  As Cindy said, many years have passed since we all lived in the same neighborhood.  I think of you all every time I go through there.  Prayers to you all.

So Sorry to hear about Your Mom it has been a long time since we all lived by each other. We lost our Mom 6 years ago

I am deeply saddened to hear of your loss. My heartfelt sympathies to Ray, Dave, Nadine and families. May God wrap His arms around you and give your hearts peace.

Mrs. Roshak was like another mom when I visited her home with Nadine when I was little.  She was always loving, caring and was so devoted to her family. My deepest condolences to Nadine, Ray, David, and their families during this time.  I lost my mother last year and know how difficult it is.  May God comfort you and hold you during this time.

My Aunt Gay, an angel of joy, a friend and mentor, who always made me laugh and brought a smile to my face. You'll always be with me. God bless. I love you and miss you.

A special prayer for a very special lady, a mother, a wife, an individual who stands above the highest mountain and brings forth the Love of God into all our hearts.  You will be sadly missed but never forgotten; you will live on in our hearts through eternity.  "O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day, your servant Gay.  We thank you for giving her to us, her family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage.  In your boundless compassion, console us who morn.  Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before as faithful servants to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord."  We Love you Gay!

God bless and keep you Dearest Aunt Gay. I am blessed for having you in my life. Forever you will be held close to my heart. Miss you.

I love you grandma more then anything. Thank you for everything you did for me and everyone else... It will never be forgotten. You were the strongest most beautiful women I've ever met. I know you will always protect me and be with me forever. I love you more then anything...

OBITUARY

Gaynell L Roshak

February 8, 1932 – October 24, 2013

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Crown Hill

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