Gisela Deutsch Winkler
On June 30, 2016, Gisela quietly passed away in the comfort of her new home in Lexington, South Carolina, and in the loving care of her daughter Linda. Gisela was 95 years old.
Gisela Deutsch was born in Raabfidisch/Rabafzes, Hungary in 1920, very near the border of Austria, and her family strongly identified with the German-speaking Burgenland community. She was the first child of Maria and Robert Deutsch.
After being displaced from Hungary after WWII, Gisela worked in Germany as a silk weaver and nanny. In 1950, Gisela sailed to the United States aboard the Leerdam 2 via Rotterdam, Netherlands, accompanied by her sister Marie (Mitzi). Shortly after, she began her married and family life after meeting her husband Robert Winkler in Allentown. She continued her work in the textile industry until her retirement in 1985.
Throughout her life, Gisela was known for her good nature and fun-loving spirit. She especially loved to sing and dance, and was a member of several Austrian/German social clubs in Allentown. She was also the life of many parties at the family vacation home at White Beauty View Resort, Lake Wallenpaupack, and was a tough competitor in many "bean bag" and "horseshoe" games at home picnics in Allentown.
Gisela was the stereotypical "Sunday Driver", and bravely drove every Sunday to Mass at St. Catherine's of Sienna Church. Parking the car was not her strength, so the short walk to church from a large space provided by the Allentown Fairgrounds parking lot provided an acceptable solution.
Family was the most important thing in Gisela's life. She remained very close to her brothers and sisters, and was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Gisela saw the goodness in all people, and endured many hardships with a positive and optimistic spirit. She loved all livings things and would delight in the beauty of flowers and her beloved pets.
Gisela is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Winkler; parents, Maria (Mild) and Robert Deutsch; and her brother, Emil Deutsch.
Gisela is survived by her daughter, Linda Moyer, of Lexington, South Carolina; her son, Robert Winkler, and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, of Vernon, Connecticut; three granddaughters, Kristen (Michael) Madsen, Loryn (Christopher) Shealy, and Stacy (Marco) Aguiar; and four beautiful great-granddaughters, Edyn, Grace, Myla, and Emily. Gisela is also survived by sisters Berta Kiehstaller and Marie Heidenwolf, with husband Joseph, and her brother Robert Deutsch and wife Terry, all residing in Whitehall, Pennsylvania.
Special thanks to Palmetto Health Hospice for their excellent care to Gisela and her family.
Visitation will be held on July 7, 2016 at Weber Funeral Home 1619 West Hamilton Street in Allentown from 10:00 -11:00 am. A brief service will begin at 11:00 am, immediately followed by burial at Laurel Cemetery in Whitehall, Pennsylvania.
As a memorial, Gisela would want us all to do some act of random kindness to brighten someone's day the way she did ours.