Gertrude Mae Masci

Gertrude Mae Masci, 96 years old, born on July 28, 1926, was peacefully called home to Our Lord on September 28, 2022 with her family by her side at her residence in Aurora, CO.
Mrs. Masci was born in Kimbolton, Ohio, and lived the majority of her life in Wintersville, OH. She grew up as a humble yet adventurous country girl in Kimbolton learning from her mother Ella to home make by hand many of the things we take for granted in a grocery or clothing store today. As a young girl she loved quiet walks in the forest, making her own clothes, fishing at the local stream trying her luck at catching a big fish for the family dinner that evening, playing in the hen house while awaiting the next egg to drop for breakfast, or go for a run down the road and back as she was a very fast runner. In grade school, her school was more than 1 mile away from home. She loved running so much and was so fast that she would opt to run home at lunch time, have lunch, and run all the way back to school and beat the school bell. She would also run home after school and one time she became worried that she thought someone was running after her because she could hear a noise close behind her which compelled her to run even faster. She eventually found out that the noise coming from behind her was due to her running so fast that her own shoes were kicking up the stones as she blazingly sped down the side of the road.
While working as a clerk in a grocery store in Canton, OH, she met a friend who eventually introduced her to her friend’s brother and future husband, Leonard V. Masci. They courted while Leonard was at war in WWII as a marine fighting in the South Pacific. They wrote the sweetest loving letters to each other that even Cupid would have been impressed by. On her 19th birthday they were married in 1945 during leave that Leonard had from the war. Their honeymoon was short lived as Leonard only had a 3-day pass but they made the best of it, and the sweet love letters continued to be sent back and forth across the Pacific Ocean in harm’s way.
After the war, she and Leonard moved to Wintersville, OH, built their own home and raised 4 wonderful children which blossomed into many grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she always beamed with pride about. Her passion for family is an inspiration for all. Put one of her grand or great-grandbabies in her arms and good luck getting her to give him or her back. Mrs. Masci’s devotion to her husband, family, and the local community are without question the mark of a dedicated, determined, creative and resourceful woman. She was tireless in support of all that she touched. She was highly competitive and athletic, and inspired her children to succeed in all that they pursued. On any given day that any of her children had a big sporting event to compete in, a big test in class, or any other challenge…she would famously write with an ink pen an inspirational message on the side of a banana that she would then include in the sack lunches she made them every day. To say that she was simply a good cook is such an understatement it would be much like saying the Mona Lisa is just a paint by numbers. Her meatballs were the best this side of Italy, were headline news worthy, and everyone would sprint to the dinner table to make sure they got one.
Mrs. Masci loved donating any time she had available to help the local church applying her amazing cooking skills to feed the many. Her adventurous side was fun to see. If you would ask her if she wanted a ride in a sports car, she was in the passenger seat before you finished the question. Her bartering skills when making a purchase of something she wanted would make any Corporate Chief Financial Officer proud. A vendor in Mexico whom she once negotiated with over the price of a blanket while on vacation, is probably still scratching his head today on how she got him to go so low in price.
Mrs. Masci’s life was about being the best wife and mother anyone could ask for, and was truly tireless in her devotion and commitment. She is greatly missed by her children, family and friends but we know that God has benefited by her presence and she is probably making meatballs for God as we speak.
Mrs. Masci is survived by her son Leonard Masci Jr. and his 3 children, 1 daughter in-law, and 2 grandchildren; her son Terry Masci and his wife Robin and their 6 children, 2 sons-in law, and 14 grandchildren; and his daughter Barb Finnin and her husband Mark, their 5 children, 1 son-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law, and 4 grandchildren. A 4th child, Carol (daughter), is deceased as is her beloved husband of 77 years, Leonard V. Masci Senior.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Suddenly Pink Foundation, a non-profit organization near and dear to Mrs. Masci’s heart that was created by her daughter Barb. Suddenly Pink Foundation raises money to assist women in Colorado in need of assistance towards the cost of breast cancer treatment. Donations can be made out to Suddenly Pink Foundation and sent to P.O. Box 440251, Aurora, CO 80044, or you can also go to their website to learn more about them and make a donation there at suddenlypinkfoundation.org/
A celebration of life is in the planning process and will be announced at a later date.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gertrude Mae Masci, please visit our floral store.