My Mom and her sister, Aunt Bernadette, were the closest of friends. Three years apart in age in a vibrant universally-large-family Irish neighborhood in Omaha, they shared everything. They even married two brothers: Gordon and Rex Gobel -- two farm boys from the Missouri River lowlands in northern Nebraska who would both achieve their dreams: Gordon as a lawyer and Rex as a doctor. But their proudest achievements were the ones Bernadette and Juanita helped them accomplish: their kids. We eleven Gobel double first cousins will be eternally grateful. Gordon passed away in 1983. Bernadette's gallant struggle and death gave us an excuse to celebrate -- her life as a loving, caring mother, aunt and friend.
After the funeral and a visit to the gravesite, we all spent the day at the Fremont, Nebraska homestead, then adjourned to the Dundee Dell, Pat's famous pub in Omaha where we posed, below: L to R: Tyler with Ann Kroman (Deb's daughter), Jill Adams (Denise's daughter), Uncle Bob Scott (Bernadette's and mom's little brother), Barb Gobel (Bernadette's care provider and the sergeant major of the weekend), Jenny Murray (Denise's daughter), me, Roger Guiney (Denise's husband), Joe Jordan (Denise's son), Denise Gobel Guiney, Pat Gobel (our host), Pat's friend, Jim Kroman and Deb Gobel Kroman, Doug Gobel and Genne Scott (Bob's wife.)
Above: Our cousin, Mike Dafferner, with his wife, Kelley, and his cousin, Barb Gobel. Above right: John Gobel (son of Pat) and me, John Gobel, (grandson of another Pat.) Right: Doug, Deb and Pat's boyhood friend who did a fantastic job of leading the proceedings. Below: Pat Gobel with her (and Pat's) son, Andrew Gobel. Below right, the big sister and brother of the Gordon Gobels: Pat and Denise.
Above: Denise's daughters, Jill and Jenny with me at lunch Thursday. Below: Ann Kroman amd Tyler. Below left: Uncle Bob and Aunt Gen. Far below left: Pat Gobel anf friends. Far below right: Aunt Bernadette wanted all white flowers, these came from the Hanover, PA Rex Gobels.
