Obituary of Gertrude "Gaylea" Alexis Litwiniec

Gertrude “Gaylea” Alexis Litwiniec (nee Hatala) lived a long, lively and colorful life and passed away on May 2, 2020 at the age of 92, from natural causes, with her family holding her hands. She was born on Veteran's Day, November 11, 1927, the first born child of John Hatala and Agnes Zinovenko Hatala, and baptized in St. Michael's Orthodox Church of Old Forge, PA. Her vivacious spirit made her a natural on the cheerleading squad and she graduated from Old Forge High School at the age of 16. Soon after graduation, she was recruited by the Federal Bureau of Investigations to be a fingerprint classifier in Washington, DC during WWII. She met her husband-to-be, Edward Litwiniec, at the Old Forge-Taylor Thanksgiving Football Game. They were married on January 10, 1947 in Old Forge, PA in St. Michael the Archangel Polish Church. She was friendly to all that she met, and would strike up a conversation with everyone she saw. She loved people, she loved reading cookbooks and trying new recipes, having social gatherings at her home, picnics on the beach, and learning new things. She was never one to sit in one place and she traveled the world with her husband and children, Bob, Len and Gayle, finding time to settle and explore the wonders and joys of life in New York City, NY, San Rafael, CA, Colorado Springs, CO, Havertown, PA, Deland, FL and West Chester, PA until Ed's untimely death in 1986. She and her husband were two of the original owners and developers of Shawnee Hills of Old Forge and she always called Old Forge her home. After her husband's death she fearlessly moved to her next phase in life to explore Vero Beach, Florida where she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, her brothers, their wives and nieces and nephews. She enjoyed walking the beach, friends, fine dining getting dressed up, shopping, teaching water aerobics at her pool, wearing bright colors of Spring, dancing at the Polish American Club and music. As life progressed she settled on Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach, FL . She was present in everyone's life and made each person feel special and loved. She enjoyed holidays and she looked forward to seeing and being part of a large family and the antics that surrounded it. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ed Litwiniec with whom she shared a happy life, loving memories and three children, a sister Dolores “Dee” Notari and a brother John “Jackie” Hatala. Surviving are two sons, Robert Edward and his wife Maureen of Fernandina Beach, FL, J. Leonard Litwiniec and his wife Rose of Deleon Springs, FL and one daughter, Gayle Susan Litwiniec-Sauers and John of West Chester, PA. Seven grandchildren, Michael Racelis, Kristianne Racelis, John (CJ) Sauers, Melissa Litwiniec-Cox (John), Melinda Thompson(Bracken), Matthew Litwiniec (Sarah)and Leah Litwiniec (Chase Borque) and ten Great Grandchildren - Kaili Racelis, Nicholas Racelis, Alyssa Parker, Adam Parker, Dallas Thompson, Gavin Thompson, Bradley Thompson, Carson Thompson, Savannah Cox, Lily Cox, Olivia Litwiniec and Weston Litwiniec : three brothers and three sister-in-laws that she viewed as her sisters, Leonard J. Hatala and Constance “Connie” Hatala of Vero Beach, Ronald “Brock” Hatala and his wife Sharon of Vero Beach and Raymond Hatala of Old Forge, PA , Eileen Hatala of Old Forge, PA and a Brother-in-law Orlando “Tubby” Notari of Old Forge, PA as well as nieces, nephews. Her cremated remains will be buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Old Forge, Pennsylvania with her husband at a date and time that has not been determined because of the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic and the restrictions that govern safety for the living.