August 18, 1948 to February 29, 2020
Gertrude Brennan Koch, of Secaucus, New Jersey, passed away from cancer on February 29, 2020.
A native of Montclair, New Jersey, Gertrude was educated at Montclair High School (1966), Bay Path Junior College, and Newark State College, graduating with a bachelor’s of arts in Elementary Education in 1971.
Gertrude married Rudolf “Rudy” Smutny, Jr. and the couple lived happily together in Secaucus, New Jersey until Rudy passed away in 2014.
Gertrude built a long successful career at Lehman Brothers and enjoyed traveling in Europe, Asia, and particularly, the Caribbean. She loved spending time at the Jersey Shore.
Gertrude is remembered for her sparkling entertaining. She found happiness in life and provided joy to others. She had a lively sense of humor, candor and wisdom. She was veryattentive and a source of generosity to her friends and family.
Gertrude is survived by her sisters, Elaine Pierson, Charlene Koch Packham, Margaret Koch, and her brother Charles Koch; her nieces and nephew Elizabeth, Susan and John Ludwigson and Lizanne Koch Nilewski along with grand nephews and nieces. Gertrude’s parents Otto Charles and Gertrude Koch and her sister Kathleen Ludwigson pre-deceased her.
A family memorial will held at a later date.
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