Irma Rose Wess Gastel, 89, of Milton, FL went to join her beloved husband in heaven on April 16, 2018. She was born Erma Linda Wess, 12 January 1929 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Amelia and William Wess. Her mother passed away 4 days later, requesting her husband give the baby to her husband’s brother and wife, Francis and Rosalia Wess to raise. They adopted and renamed her Irma Rose and raised her as their own.
Irma grew up on the south side of Pittburgh, attending St. Peters Catholic School and Church, completing a secretarial certification, then going to work for Sperry and Company. She met her husband, Conrad P. Gastel at work and they married in 1956 and had 5 children together. They moved the family to Orlando, FL in April 1972. She retired from Products By Cameo after 20 years. She was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 286 and retired after 13 years when she moved to Milton to be with her daughters.
Irma was preceded in death by both sets of parents, her husband of 48 years, her brothers, Norman and Francis Wess, and her biological siblings, Rosamund (Sell), William, Alma (Borbonus), Elmer and Raymond Wess.
Irma is survived by her 5 children, David (Rebecca) Gastel of Orlando, Irma Rose (Arthur) Frazier of Milton, Theresa Gastel of Milton, Donald Gastel of Orlando and James (Juanita Christine) Gastel of Inverness, 15 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. Irma leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and many "adopted" children and grandchildren. She also leaves behind her special best friend of more than 60 years, Margaretta Moeller of Pittsburgh.
Irma was an active member of St. John Vianney Church in Orlando for many years, and St. Rose of Lima in Milton, along with being a regular attendee at Christ United Methodist Church in Milton with her daughters.
Visitation in Milton will be Monday, April 23rd from 5-7pm at the National Cremation and Burial Society Funeral home on Hwy 90 in Milton, FL, followed by a service there on Tuesday, April 24th at 10 am.
Visitation in Orlando will be Thursday, April 26th from 6-9pm at the Pinecastle Chapel of the Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home on Hansel Ave with a service on Friday, April 27th at 10 am and interment at the Florida National Cemetary in Bushnell, FL following the service. Pallbearers will be her 6 grandsons, Raymond P. Stewart, David G. Gastel, Nathan R. Gastel, Gregory A. Jones, Timothy E. Frazier and Rafael Joshua Maldonado.
The Family would like to thank Emerald Coast Hospice and the Santa Rosa Health and Rehabilitation Center for the wonderful care they took of their mother over the last 11 months. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to Emerald Coast Hospice, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or any of the churches where she attended.
The National Cremation and Burial Society in Milton, FL is handling the arrangements.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Irma Rose Wess Gastel