Our mother, Jean Gogel, passed away on Tuesday, April 19th, 2016 in Longwood, Florida. Mom was 93 years old. She leaves behind a grieving daughter, son and daughter-in-law, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren as well as two surviving sisters.
Her viewing will be held Friday the 22nd of April at noon at the Loomis Family Funeral Home at 420 W. Main Street, Apopka.
Our Mother was cut from the cloth of the greatest generation; she experienced depression, World War, hard times and great times. Born to the Hershey family of Pennsylvania, she grew up one of three sisters. She graduated from Trenton State Teachers’ College, now New Jersey University, and taught briefly before our father Russell R. Gogel returned from the Pacific Theater in WWII to marry her in Springfield, New Jersey.
Mom and Dad were married for 41 years before he passed, living all those years in Florham Park NJ. In the decades following his death, Mom remained alone and without companion by choice. But hers was not a lonely adult life; she was actively involved with her family and moved from New Jersey to Florida to be close to her two sisters. Mom had a deep and abiding passion for music throughout her life, being an accomplished violinist in her youth, and she passed that love on to all her family. Music and laughter were chords resonating throughout the most authentic moments of our lives.
During the last week of her life, my sister Cheryl, my wife Filomena and I were all blessed by Mom with astounding moments of love and by a generosity of spirit that amazed us beyond measure. She touched us deeply during this time, and again through laughter and music, sought to lighten for us the pain of her passing; she smoothed the rough edges of our lives even as her own life was rounded into a gentle sleep.
Thank you, Mom, for being the amazing mother and matriarch of our family. We pray we live up to the example you set for us.
Written in love
Ray Gogel