Gertrude C. O'Donnell Hodgkiss Blair

January 16, 2017 Last Updated: January 16, 2017 11:00 AM Death Notice

Gertrude C. O'Donnell Hodgkiss Blair of Butler passed away Wednesday after a valiant fight with cancer.

She was surrounded by her loving family at the VNA Hospice.

She was born March 29, 1932, to Daniel J. and Mary E. O'Donnell at the family home in Chicora. She married John C. Hodgkiss on April 21, 1956, who preceded her in death.

She graduated from Butler High School in 1950. Gert was employed at Western Auto, Koppers Chemical Plant, Moonlight Mushroom Farm and was a school bus driver for many years. She retired from driving school bus at the age of 80.

She was a member of the BUCO travel club and Christian Mothers of St. Joseph's Church and St. Paul's Church. She enjoyed traveling and was most proud of hiking the Grand Canyon in her 70s. She traveled to Ireland several times to visit relatives. Gert enjoyed playing dominoes and cards. She loved her flowers and vegetable gardens. Gertrude was an avid baker, especially of pies.

She is survived by her children, Daniel (Shannon) Hodgkiss of Chicora, Theodore (Judith) Hodgkiss of Georgetown, Texas, Robert (Darlene) Hodgkiss of Butler, Lawrence (Patti) Hodgkiss of Woodbine, Md., Leonard (Christine) Hodgkiss of Butler and Trudy (Daniel) McNamara of Woodbine, Md.; her stepchildren, Patricia Elder of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Marilyn (Gordon) Hartman of Butler and Edward (MaryAnn) Hodgkiss of Sunset Beach, N.C.; 14 grandchildren; eight stepgrandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and 13 stepgreat-grandchildren.

She also is survived by three sisters, Mary Ann (Otto) Schaffler of Riverside, Calif., Jeanne (Larry) South of Annapolis, Md., and Rita Mills of Poolesville, Md.; her brother, Robert (Carole) O'Donnell of Montrose, Colo.; four sisters-in-law; a special nephew, James Schaffler; and numerous other nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was preceded in death by two stepsons, Harry and Thomas Hodgkiss; three brothers, Edward, Kenneth and Joseph O'Donnell; and her second husband, Harry Blair.

BLAIR — Friends of Gertrude C. O'Donnell Hodgkiss Blair, who died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, North Oakland. The Rev. Rick Thompson, pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow at St. Joseph's Parish Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 333 E. Carson St., Suite 441, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, or online at https://donate.lls.org/lls/donateFor more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.geibelfuneralhome.com.