Gertrude Eleanor Potash (Trudy)

Gertrude Eleanor Potash (Trudy), age 88, of Pittsfield, MA, passed away while surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at Berkshire Medical Center. She had been a patient at Mt. Greylock Extended Care Center for the past three and a half years. Trudy was born in West New York, NJ, on September 11, 1935. She was the daughter of the late Howard and Gertrude Hanlon. She graduated from Holy Rosary Academy in Union City, NJ, and later, after raising 5 children, from Berkshire Community College. As a young woman, Trudy entered the convent at age 17 but after two years she realized that God had different plans for Sister Margaret Charles. She met the love of her life, Chester F. Potash while vacationing at Jug End Barn Resort and married him on September 12, 1959 at Our Lady of Libera Church in West New York, NJ. They honeymooned to St. Anne-de-Beaupre Shrine in Canada, a promise she kept after making a novena to St. Anne and after Chet finally asked her to marry him. Trudy worked as an actuarial clerk for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York City before getting married and having children. She worked as a nanny after raising her own family. She was a “Vol Mom” at St. Mark School where she taught gym. She was a Brownie Troop Leader. She was a communicant of St. Mark Church and a CCD teacher (Baptism, Confirmation). Trudy baked sheet cakes and made numerous chicken, tuna, and egg salad sandwiches every week for St. Mark Parish Bingo on Saturday night. Trudy was a devoute Catholic and a woman of deep faith, an active member of the Good Shepard Prayer Group, women’s prayer group, and Marion Father’s prayer line. Trudy and Chet were very involved in Marriage Encounter as Team Leaders for many years. Trudy loved reading and she loved books. She had more than enough to fill a library and she read all of them. Her other interests included baking, knitting, sewing, puzzles, board games, Mahjong, Scrabble, crosswords, Sudoku, and poetry. Trudy enjoyed trips to Mohegan Sun with her dear friend Anne Myrick. She enjoyed family reunions with her two sisters at her brother, Charlie’s home every August. She took trips every October to spend time with her sister Carole in Virginia. She enjoyed the many years her sister, Cindy, traveled from Florida to spend summers with her here in Massachusetts. Trudy treasured the trip she took to Ireland with her sisters and Chet (dubbed that year - the man with 3 wives). Trudy is survived by her husband of 64 years, Chester F. Potash (Chet); 5 children: Cathy Walsh (Bill) of Great Barrington, MA, Chet Potash (Leslie) of North Adams, MA, Caryn Kirk (Tim) of Raleigh, NC, Christopher Potash of Rochester, NY, and Joseph Potash of Pittsfield, MA; 10 grandchildren: Brittany, Matthew, and Michael Walsh, McKenzie Hebert, Mitchell Anderson, Ryan Kirk (Megan), Evan Kirk (Victoria), Chloe, Molly, and Lucy Potash; 3 great grandchildren: Nora and Emily Kirk, and Callum Atwell; her beloved brother, Charles Hanlon (Debbie), her sisters-in-law, Eileen Potash and Jeanine Potash, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by 2 grandsons: Joseph and Charles Potash, her sisters: Lucille (Cindy) Zintel and Carole Blevins., a niece: Jann Simmons, 2 nephews: Jimmy Simmons and Thomas Potash, and her dear friend, Anne Myrick. The family wishes to thank the staff at Mt. Greylock Extended Care, Doctor Chanler at Berkshire Medical Center (Emergency Medicine) and Father Pete (hospital chaplain) for their care of and kindness toward Trudy. Funeral Notice: Funeral services for Trudy will be Saturday, October 21, 2023, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 12 noon at St. Mark's Church. Burial will be private. Calling hours will be directly prior to the service, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. In lieu of flowers, donations in Trudy's memory can be made to the Marion Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01263 in care of the funeral home.

Gertrude Eleanor Potash (Trudy)

September 11, 1935 - October 15, 2023