Gerda Bressie, 91, passed away Monday, November 6th, 2023 in Palm Harbor, Florida. We loved her as a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.
Gerda was born in Mobile, Alabama to the late Bernhard and Thora Hetland, from Stavanger, Norway. Gerda met her husband Robert, while he was attending Spring Hill college in Mobile. They were married in 1951 at Immaculate Conception Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Together they raised five children.
Gerda was predeceased by the love of her life, Robert, her husband of 66 years; son, Stephen (Sheena) Bressie; sister, Edith Page; as well as her parents Bernhard and Thora Hetland. She is survived by her four beloved children, Thomas (Pamela) Bressie, Michael (Marylee) Bressie, Barbara Mathis (Edward Krauss), Cari (Kevin) Muenks; her nine adored grandchildren, Julie (Patrick) Campbell, Morgan (Matt) Felder, Michelle (Shawn) Huckaba, Tanya Bressie, Thomas Bressie, Daniel Shelton (Karlie Allmer), Phillip Bressie, Christine (David Soto) Muenks, Jennifer Robertson; seventeen cherished great-grandchildren; as well as her revered sister, Lilly Olsen.
The family will celebrate Gerda’s life with a Mass of Christian burial at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Tarpon Springs, Florida on November 13th, 2023 at one o’clock p.m. Visitation will be at Dobies Funeral Home, Tarpon Springs Florida on November 12th, 2023, two o’clock-four o’clock p.m. and six o’clock-eight o’clock p.m.
Thomas B Dobies Funeral Home - Tarpon Springs Chapel
Thomas B Dobies Funeral Home - Tarpon Springs Chapel
St Ignatius of Antioch Roman Catholic Church
Curt and Lois Norman
November 10, 2023, 11:21 pm
A wonderful friend we were blessed to know and love.
“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”
Laura Hirlinger
November 11, 2023, 3:10 am
My sincerest condolences to family and friends of Gigi (Mrs. Bressie to me). Growing up across the street from Gigi’s daughter and my best childhood friend, Cari, gave me so many cherished memories from growing up with such a wonderful family right across the street. Mrs. Bressie remembered my mom bringing me home from the hospital after I was born about six months after her daughter, Cari. The Bressie family always welcomed me into their home, and even let me come on a weekend trip to their uncle’s place on the Meramec River one 4th of July. Mr. and Mrs. Bressie were always our taxi to wherever we wanted or needed to go. I know they must have sacrificed a lot for their five kids. I remember Mr. and Mrs. Bressie sitting in their garage watching a storm. I remember them giving out full-size candy bars on Halloween. I remember Mrs. Bressie making popcorn for our little neighborhood “show.” I remember Mr. and Mrs. Bressie joining in the Bunny Hop at Cari and Kevin’s anniversary party, even though they were well beyond retirement age. I’m so glad I got to see Gigi a couple years ago and go to church with her during my visit. May she rest in peace with her sweetheart, Bob and her beloved son, Steve.