Hampden – Gertrude M. (O’Shea) Wagner, age 98, passed away peacefully at Baystate Medical Center on January 10, 2022. She was born on December 11, 1923 in Springfield, a daughter of the late John T. and Regina (Crawshaw) O’Shea.
She was raised in the Hungry Hill section of Springfield, and graduated from Cathedral High School. She went on to obtain her Registered Nursing degree from Mercy School of Nursing in 1945. Gert worked at Mercy Hospital for many years, including training new nurses while a supervisor on her floor. She took time away from her work as a nurse to raise her family and later returned to that work after her children were grown. She worked as a nurse for the Litscher Eye Center for many years before she retired.
On August 1, 1959, she married John, a high school classmate and a recent widower, after a courtship that started when they locked eyes at a hockey game. They shared a life centered around faith and family for more than 62 years. Together they raised eleven children: six from John’s first marriage and five from their own. One of Gert’s greatest gifts to John and all their children was to weave together a family that has laughed, cried, celebrated – and now mourns her passing – as one.
Gert was a devout Catholic, a woman of deep faith and prayer. She instilled in her children and grandchildren the importance of Mass, the Eucharist and the Sacraments. Gertrude was a communicant of Holy Name Parish in Chicopee. For many years, she attended daily Mass with the Rosary Group at Holy Name Church, and later at St. Stanislaus Church. She was part of a small group that volunteered their time to ensure the cleaning and upkeep of Holy Name Church and later volunteered in support of Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry by helping to prepare meals to feed families in need.
Gert will always be remembered by her family for the way she greeted everyone who visited by heading to the kitchen to prepare a meal, a snack, a cup of coffee. She especially cherished time with her grandchildren, which over the years included trips to the playground, and attending their school plays, sporting events, and graduations.
For more than 30 years Gert, John and the children enjoyed spending the summers and creating memories at their family cottage in Wales, MA. While the children were off swimming at the lake, Gert, an avid reader, enjoyed long afternoons on the porch reading mystery novels, doing crossword puzzles and word search games. At night, Gert could often be found around a picnic table playing Pitch with her family and her good friends, Roy and Annette Lamoureux.
She is predeceased by her brother John “Jack” O’Shea and three sisters, Helen (McDonald) LaBroad, Frances MacKenzie and Anna Mae Burati, and her special aunt Mary “Mame” O’Shea.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, John F. Wagner of Hampden; seven sons, John S. Wagner of West Hartford, CT, Christopher Wagner and his wife Suzanne Nolan of Windsor, CT, Michael Wagner and his wife Jean of Windsor, CT, Timothy Wagner and his wife Nancy of Chicopee, Richard Wagner of Springfield, Joseph Wagner and his wife Laureen of Chicopee and William Wagner and his wife Kathleen of West Springfield; four daughters, Elizabeth LaPointe of Wales, Regina Wagner and her wife Christine Ryan of Minneapolis, MN, Trudy Wagner and her partner Christian Tardif of Belchertown and Anne MacGregor and her husband Michael of Hampden. She also leaves her sister-in-law Joyce O’Shea of Greer, SC; twenty-one grandchildren, Kate, Ryan, Marcelle, David, Paulette, Anthony, Christopher, Rebecca, Nathan, Riley, Katherine, Timothy, Jennifer, Jonathan, Nichole, Benjamin, Meghan, Lauren, Robert, Caitlin and Daniel along with 16 beloved great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends who will miss her dearly.
The family is grateful for the compassionate end of life care provided by the staff at Baystate Medical Center to Gert and her family in her final days.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 14, 2022 from 4:00 -7:00 PM at the Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield St, Chicopee. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022 from 9:30-10:30 AM at the Grise Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Assumption Church at 11:00 AM. Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery. For online condolences please visit www.GriseFH.com. At the family’s request, masks must be worn by those attending the wake and church services. A live stream of the Church Service will be viewable from www.HolyNameofJesusChicopee.com .
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry at https://www.lorrainessoupkitchen.com or the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org.