Gisela (Pechman) Faul

Gisela (Pechman) Faul, 85, of Messiah Church Road, Bedford, passed peacefully away May 19, 2014 at Altoona Hospital. Her youngest child was holding her hand.

She was born on March 10, 1929 in Kolba, Germany. At the end of World War II, Gisela fled to West Germany with her brother Richard and sister Annelore, while their sister Erica remained in East Germany with their parents, Karl and Elsa Pechman.

Gisela was working at a restaurant in Frankfort when she met Robert "Bob" Faul, who was stationed there with the Army. When he returned to the United States, Bob missed Gisela so much that he sent her a proposal and a plane ticket. They were married on June 5, 1954.

Gisela, a homemaker, cared for a growing family. Theresa ("Terri") was born in 1956, followed by Jay in 1957 and Christina in 1961. They lost Jay to an accident in 1964. Barbara was born in 1965, followed by Walter ("Wally") in 1967 and Steven ("Steve") in 1968. Terri's best friend, Betty Shumaker, became part of the family in the 1970s.
Gisela took pride in cooking her native German cuisine as well as Italian and Chinese food. She was an attentive gardener of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Gisela also filled her home with an amazing variety of plants. She made frequent gifts to her family and friends of beautiful hand-knitted sweaters and crocheted afghans.
Before the children were grown, Gisela and Bob took them on annual vacations to the beach. After Bob's retirement, he and Gisela switched from camping at Asateague Island to renting a cottage at Cape Hatteras.

Terri now lives in Albany. Her children are Emily Faul and Thomas Hancock.. Emily married Scott Smith and recently gave birth to Gisela's first great-grandson, Ethan.

Betty and her husband, Dale Chaney, live in Fairhope. They gave Bob and Gisela their first grandchild, Benjamin. Ben and his wife, Samantha, have a daughter, Cora.

Christina (Faul) Dunigan, an English teacher in South Korea, has two children,  Lisa Jenelle  (Dunigan) McLean and Michael Jay Dunigan. Lisa Jenelle and her husband, Donny, have three daughters: Danielle, Rayellen, and Vanessa.

Barbara and her husband, Anthony Edes, live in Richardson, Texas, with their daughter, Molly. Wally and his wife, Michelle "Mick" Tressler, stayed in southwestern Pennsylvania and have two sons, Christopher and Brandon. Steve married Tracy Tucker, and they live in Hinesville, Georgia with their three children, Jessica, Jacob, and Daniel.

All of Bob and Gisela's children returned regularly for long visits.

After 51 years of marriage, Gisela was widowed in 2005. Wally and his family moved in to help Gisela to remain in her beloved home. The other children came home to be with her in her final illness. Gisela spent her last days surrounded by the children and grandchildren she loved.

A Memorial Service will be held at at Louis Geisel Funeral Home, Bedford at 7:00 PM on Thursday, May 22nd,  2014 with Rev. Charles Hay officiating.

Friends are invited to call on Thursday from 3:00 - 7:00 PM at the funeral home in Bedford.

Memorial Contributions may be made in memory of Gisela to the Bedford Fire Department, 244 W. Penn St., Bedford, PA 15522.

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