Gertrude Marjorie Weeks touched the lives of everyone she ever met with her warmth and generosity. She was cheerful and loyal, and she was blessed with an easy laugh and a wonderful sense of humor. She took great pride in her cherished family and built strong relationships with her friends over many years.

Gertrude's unconditional love for her family and friends was one of the first things one noticed about her. This was shown over and over throughout her life by her enthusiasm for and her pleasure in any of her children's, grandchildren's, or great grandchildren's accomplishments or activities. She never doubted her family members' abilities to succeed in anything that they endeavored to do.

Anyone who ever met Gertrude certainly had the good fortune to witness her great joie de vivre, which was always evident in her love of music. Few things could bring her the same happiness as listening to the music of her beloved Barbra Streisand or Neil Diamond. She used to love to turn up the music on the stereo and get up and dance around the room to her favorite songs. Her ready smile and easy laughter lit up the room and gave family gatherings so much joy and life.

Gertrude was the perfect grandmother in many ways, made up of equal measures of indulgence and guidance. She cherished every moment she could spend with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her grandchildren loved to spend time at her house because she was always patient if they were crabby and she would listen with rapt attention to all of their stories and songs, no matter how long and tedious they might be. Gertrude's patience extended to meals, too. She was always teased by the family because long after everyone else was finished eating, she would still be at the table, savoring the last few bites of her meal. She would just laugh at the good-natured teasing and tell everyone that she liked to enjoy her food. Gertrude was always an enthusiastic and appreciative recipient of gifts. She even loved the wrapping paper, which she would admire endlessly and then try to preserve by unwrapping each gift very slowly and carefully so as not to tear the paper. She made the giver feel that whatever was inside the package was her heart's desire, and was the most precious gift she'd ever received.

No collection of thoughts about Gertrude would be complete without mention of her deep and abiding love of her husband, Frank. Her pride and love for him were evident to everyone, as was her appreciation of the great respect and care he showed her throughout their life together. She thought he was handsome and dynamic, a brilliant husband and father, and she was so proud to have been his wife of 67 years.

The world was indeed blessed by the presence of a woman who was always so kind and loving and so full of grace and elegance. Like the warm summertime sun she loved so much, her warmth and grace encompassed everyone who knew her. The loss her family felt at her passing can be best expressed by the words of William Shakespeare: "Alas, poor world, what treasure hast thou lost."