Gertrude Agnes Christiance Stoltz

Stoltz, Gertrude Agnes nee Christiance Longtime White Bear Resident Age 109, 1903-2012 “The first hundred years are the easiest” she used to say. But still she persisted in doing her best to live a full life, wheeling around the nursing home “making people smile.” Born in St. Paul in its immigrant neighborhood, she worked her way up from selling silk stockings door to door to becoming private secretary to the boss, moving with the company to New York. There she lived the roaring ‘20’s life, visiting speakeasies and dancing at the Cotton Club. Married at age 30, she then had to succumb to the time’s demand: if the wife worked, it meant the husband couldn’t “provide.” So she stayed at home and raised three children. An Irish city girl, she grew up in St. Paul, belonged to the Sodality at the Cathedral and was in the last class to be confirmed by Archbishop Ireland. In 1933 she married a butcher, Kirby Stoltz, a WWI veteran, and in the ‘40’s they moved to Long Prairie where the only place available was a small farm; there she learned to ride a bike, to visit neighbors, plant a garden, shoot at chicken hawks, and milk a cow. These were the happiest days of her life, she used to say. In 1955 they moved to White Bear Lake, and then widowed at 61, she became active in the VFW Women’s Auxiliary and parish work at St. Mary’s of the Lake. In her 70’s she toured France, Italy and Switzerland with her granddaughter, stole the show at 82 in the “Unsinkable Molly Brown,” and sang with the Sweet Adelines until she was 90. At the age of 92 she visited Ireland. Early in her married life, she taught herself nutrition and proudly claimed, to the end, she never used medications. All her life she was an avid reader, had many, many friends, and loved to laugh. Preceded in death by her husband, Kirby; sister, Margaret; and brother, George. Survived by her three children, Elizabeth of North St. Paul, Judith Dodge of Annapolis, MD, and Charles of Everette, WA; ten grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial 2:30 PM Saturday, July 28, 2012 at Saint Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, 4741 Bald Eagle Ave, White Bear Lake with visitation 2 hours prior to the time of the Mass at the church. Memorials preferred to the White Bear Lake Sweet Adelines