Velia Susan Gerth

Vel Gerth beloved mother to Leslie Noson (Dennis), Roslyn Sealy, (passed 2017) Susan Pessemier and Robert Gerth passed away with her devoted family surrounding her on June 1st at the age of 97. She was an actively engaged and influential grandmother (Nonni) to 12 – Tom (passed 2024), Kirstin, Petra (Alen), Dominic (Laura), Anna (Doug), Kate (Nate), Alex and Willie, Jesse and Colton, Cedar (Gary) and Josh (Carrie) along with 8 great and 2 great great grandchildren and was loved by all

Vel was raised in Cle Elum, Washington with 4 other children by Italian immigrant parents, Nick and Emily Roberts. They moved to Seattle in 1941 and she attended Roosevelt and the UW where she met Robert (Bob) Gerth at the ROTC office. They raised their 4 kids in the Lakewood area and then Vel came into her own by going back to school and graduating at nearly 50 from Evergreen State College with a double major in Mental Health and English Literature. She poured herself into a newly created life as a drug and alcohol counselor, a volunteer with the sex offenders at Western State, and began writing poetry and creating watercolors.

In 1993 Bob and Vel moved to Seattle to be nearer to their family and they traveled extensively internationally where they contributed their skills to communities in Lithuania, Romania, etc. Vel and Bob were married for 58 years when he passed away in 2007. Vel taught Creative Writing at Lifetime Learning until age 90 when she chose University House Wallingford as her new home. She made many friends and led activities and loved it so much.

“100 years could not convey the love, the laughs, the tears that stay. No paint, no picture, no ink, no frame captures your beauty, your grace, your gift your way. “ Willie Pessemier (grandson)

A Celebration of Life will be held later this summer.