(March 3, 1943 - April 1, 2025)

Gail’s son, David, set up this Caring Bridge site for Gail. There arre photos and a detailed account of how Gail was doing. Cloick on the link if you would like to see her journey. There are photos and a detailed account of how she was doing until she passed. "In a nutshell," her longtime friend and classmate, Doris Knech Barrabas '61, wtote, "on 12/23 Gail lost consciousness and was taken to the hospital. She had Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s and had been steadily going downhill. There were ups and downs in the hospital and in rehab where her health declined even more and she passed on April 1st."

Gail's Official Obituary

Gail Lynn (Young) Gersic of Naperville, Illinois, passed away on April 1, 2025, under hospice care at the Beacon Hill Retirement Community’s Medical Center in Lombard, Illinois. Gail had just turned 82 a few weeks prior and had been at Beacon Hill for several weeks, recovering from an emergency medical episode precipitated by her battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Gail was born on March 3, 1943, to Ruth Mary (Garner) Young and Edward Frederick Young at Hackensack Hospital in Hackensack, New Jersey. Gail was the second of three sisters, Barbara, Gail, and Patricia.

Gail was preceded in death by her parents, her paternal and maternal grandparents, a niece (Deborah Bobb), two brothers-in-law (Edward Bobb and John Maynard), and several aunts and uncles.

Gail leaves behind her loving husband, Ray, two adult children, David and Thomas, and their spouses, Dawn and Sharol, four precious grandchildren: Alayna (Henry Kathman), Tyler, Mya, and Amelia Gersic; her siblings, Barbara Bobb and Patricia Young, several extended family members living across the United States; and many friends.

Gail grew up in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, and attended the Fair Lawn Senior High School graduating class of 1961. Fair Lawn High School was a fairly large school, the graduating class numbered 456 students, and of those, she made many lifelong friends. Gail did well in her studies, but she never wanted to pursue higher education. Instead, she wanted most to be a dedicated homemaker; most of all a grandmother . . . a Nana. In that respect, her wish was fulfilled four times.

Growing up, Gail lived two lives. During the school months, she interacted with immediate family and friends in Fair Lawn, but when school was out, Gail spent the summers frolicking on the sand of Ocean Beach, New Jersey. Her parents had wisely purchased a cottage there, so every summer they would move and live at the cottage. Her dad commuted to New York City, where he worked. As an adolescent and teenager, Gail spent much time as a self-proclaimed “beach bum”.

In 1961, Gail graduated from high school and went to work for Bell Laboratories in Holmdel, New Jersey. After a short time, she was promoted and assigned to a technical group, where she met Ray. They were married in June 1965. Their marriage lasted nearly 60 years, and they had two children: David and Thomas. Gail did not return to the workforce after she was married.

In 1968, Ray was sent on loan by Bell Laboratories to the Pacific Telephone Company in California to assist in the installation of a computerized telephone system for the Beverly Hills community. Without any hesitation, they closed up their mobile home, packed up their belongings and drove the old Route 66 to California. Gail was amazed at the beauty and vastness of the country. It seemed like she never forgot anything about the trip. Her most vivid recollection was of an elderly Hopi Indian woman walking along a desolate, barren, windblown highway in the desert of New Mexico. Gail would lament as she recalled the scene, “Where was she going? Why is she here? There’s nothing but sand and more sand. Should we have stopped to help her?” She never forgot that experience.

In 1973, Gail and her family moved into the Steeple Run subdivision and have lived there ever since. Gail immediately fell in love with Naperville. The schools, the parks, and other amenities were much like those she experienced growing up in New Jersey. She especially loved the Midwest people. They were a welcoming family-oriented community.

Over the years Gail was involved with many community, school, and church activities. At the top of her most gratifying achievements was helping and guiding persons wanting to convert to Catholicism, an experience she herself had traversed. Secondly, she was extremely proud to have been one of the original Naperville Carillon players.

Gail was gifted with many talents. She was an accomplished writer of children’s storybooks which she had published through Shutterfly Publishing. In addition to writing children’s storybooks, she excelled in writing poetry, having written more poems than could fit in several notebook binders. A number of her poems were eventually made into spiritual songs, for which her son, Tom, wrote the music scores. As for her artistic talents; the rooms and walls of her home were tastefully decorated with her own paintings, photographs, and handcrafted objects, such as decorative macrame, embroidery, and quilts.

Gail loved being around children and being part of neighborhood block parties, where she would mingle with the kids and join in their games in the street. She was all the kids’ Nana. The neighborhood kids came to her to listen to her tell of the beautiful world we live in and how to protect it by how we live and how we respect and care for each other.

Gail will be greatly missed by those who came to know her. She was a beautiful loving, caring, and talented person, given to us by Almighty God for a short time. Her light will forever shine brightly in our hearts and memories.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to end Parkinson’s Disease at https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate.

Visitation will be held at the Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Friday, April 25, 4:00-8:00 PM. All are invited to gather for the Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, April 26, 11:00 AM at Saint Margaret Mary Parish, 1450 Green Trails Dr., Naperville. Committal Services will be held at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery on Monday, April 28, at 1:30 PM.

[Obituary published online: South Naperville IL Mortuary: Obituaries & Guest Book | Friedrich-Jones & Overman-Jones, serving Naperville & Plainfield IL]

https://www.friedrichjones.com/obituaries/Gail-Lynn-Gersic?obId=41967876