Nancy Gerhardt

Private family services will be held at San Isidro Church in Borica, NM at 2:30 p.m. Saturday Dec 16, 2006. Nancy Ann Gerhardt, 56, born January 25, 1950, departed this life on December 13, 2006. Nancy was the second of eight children born to the home of Henry Gerhardt and Teodora Gerhardt of Puerto de Luna. Nancy is prededed in death by her mother Teodora, a sister Alice Martinez and brother in law Gabriel Rivera. She is survived by her father Henry Gerhardt, four sisters Elizabeth Gerhardt and Peggy Gerhardt of Ohio; Evelyn Rivera, Angie Apodaca and husband Lawrence, two brothers Joe Gerhardt and wife Marcella, Frank Gerhardt and wife Patricia, and a brother-in-law Johnny Martinez all from the Santa Rosa/Puerto de Luna area along with and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Nancy died December 13, 2006 at her home in Santa Rosa after enduring a long, painful struggle with complications from a back surgery performed a few years earlier. For a long time Nancy had maintained hope that one more surgery would make her well. She yearned to walk again, and move about free from pain. During those long and lonely times of waiting between operations, she occupied herself by reaching out to friends and family members in flowery hand written love notes in small cards she purchased at the Dollar store. The dollar store was close to her home, and was one of the few outings she was able to manage on her own. Nancy loved the outdoors, and towards the end, she took pleasure in maintaining her small yard in the best way she could. It was a source of pleasure and pride for her. She also kept a small bird feeder at the window, and relished in witnessing the small winged visitors who came to her window. Nancy also loved to bake, and take care of others. In her finer moments, she was always the first to offer help to a family member in need. We, who have known her best and loved her longest, remember her as a rascal, a lover of pranks and a teller of jokes and stories. We will miss her. Services entrusted to the Chavez Funeral Home of Santa Rosa.