Gail M. Gerak 1939-2024

She was born in Youngstown, Feb. 3, 1939, daughter of the late Paul W. and Angela Belick Gerak.

She was recently asked her favorite memory growing up; Gail said the picnics at Geneva-on-the-Lake with her parents and extended family.

Gail attended St. Brendan Elementary School and graduated from Chaney High School in 1957. She received a BSBA from Youngstown University in 1961 and was a YSU Alumni Association life member.

Living a large portion of her life on Youngstown’s West Side and Austintown, she was a very involved community member. Gail was a life member of the Austintown Historical Society, serving as chairwoman of many events and projects. She was most proud of organizing the annual flag raising at the Austin Log Cabin as part of the community-wide Fourth of July events.

For over 20 years, Gail volunteered at the Canfield Fair Arts & Crafts Building as a decorator and hostess. She enjoyed entering her projects and received many ribbons of excellence.

One of her favorite interests was visiting historical places and events. Her daughter, Maureen, and best friend, the late Mary Jo Remedio, spent many trips stopping at historical markers along the roadway and visiting museums in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

This interest in historical places continued when she moved to Texas in 2004, visiting the Alamo, finding dinosaur tracks along the San Gabriel River and exploring mission trails. She became involved with Pflugerville’s historical Heritage House Museum partners, organizing events and being a docent.

Her favorite hobbies were reading, general crafts and quilting. She passed her love of crafts and designing to her daughter, Maureen, and granddaughter, Molly. Additionally, Gail was active in Campfire as a leader to Maureen’s childhood group, and more recently, as an adult member of Girl Scouts supporting Molly.

As Gail has been the genealogical historian of the family, she enjoyed researching and documenting family ancestry. Over the years she helped organize many family reunions.

Gail was proud to be a survivor since 1998 of ovarian cancer, a disease that took the life of many ancestors, including her mother.

She leaves her daughter, Maureen DellaPenna McDonough; and granddaughter, Molly of Pflugerville, Texas; and many cousins and countless friends in Ohio and Texas, including a best friend from high school who Gail said is like a sister, Joann Santha.

A celebration of life will be held at Birch Hill Cabin in Mill Creek Metroparks (at the end of McCollum Road) on Wednesday, July 3. Friends and family are asked to join us anytime between noon and 4 p.m. to celebrate Gail and share our lasting memories.

Gail’s ashes will be interred in Calvary Cemetery.

A funeral Mass was held at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in Texas.

Arrangements provided by Beck Funeral Home, Pflugerville, Texas.

(special notice)