Gertrude Ann Rochford Vanda

Beloved mother and grandmother, Gertrude Ann Rochford Vanda of Hudson, WI passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at the age of 102 years.

Gertrude was born September 1st, 1921 in Joel, WI. She was the second youngest of eight children born to Jane & James Bennett Rochford. She grew up on the family farm and attended grade school in Joel. She graduated from Amery High School in 1939. Gertrude met her future husband, Albert Vanda, at the age of nineteen while working in Clayton. They were engaged to be married in August of 1941, one month before Albert entered the U.S. Army. While Albert served in World War II for the next four years, Gertrude trained as a beautician, working initially in Minneapolis before returning to work in Amery. Albert returned from WWII in October of 1945. Gertrude and Albert were married on June 17, 1946 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Turtle Lake, WI. They lived in Amery, WI for twelve years where their children, Margaret Ann, Jonathan, Charles, and Teresa were born. In 1958, the family moved to Rice Lake where they established their own business, a family grocery store. Their youngest daughter, Annette, was born in Rice Lake. They operated their business for the next twenty-one years, working together, raising their children, and enjoying family, friends, and the beautiful community they lived in. Gertrude and Albert retired in 1979, taking great pleasure in traveling and socializing with friends and family, and as active members in their church. During her retirement, Gertrude volunteered to help coordinate and prepare funeral dinners at St. Joseph Catholic Church for twenty years. Gertrude will always be remembered for her homemaking skills. She was an excellent baker, making home baked breads, pies, cakes, and cookies. She created the tradition of making cut out sugar cookies and frosting and decorating them with great detail for all of the holidays throughout the year. This cookie tradition has stood the test of time and has been passed on to her daughters and grandchildren. Gertrude was also a skilled seamstress and her crocheting skills were evident in many beautiful pieces she created for her own home and as gifts to her family and grandchildren. Immediate and extended family were very important to Gertrude. She always proudly shared that she had fifty nieces and nephews and they were very special to her. She was also very proud of her Irish heritage and while she had the opportunity to travel regularly during her retirement, she especially treasured the opportunity to travel to Ireland where both of her parents’ families originated from.

In her mid-nineties, Gertrude moved to Hudson to be closer to her grandchildren. Gertrude’s grandchildren brought her so much joy and she loved every moment she spent with them. She was amazing in her ability to live in her independent senior apartment for over eight and a half years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; infant daughter, Margaret Ann; and son, Charles. She is survived by a son, Jonathan Vanda of Rice Lake; a daughter, Teresa (Howard) Cameron of Hudson, and granddaughter Kathleen; a daughter, Annette Vanda of Hudson; and grandchildren, Noah, Andrew, and Rachel; and daughter-in-law Jeanne Vanda of Des Moines.

Our family extends its deepest gratitude and appreciation to Father John Gerritts for his support and presence to our mother and family members during her brief illness.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on April 21, 2024 at 2:30 pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1500 Vine Street Hudson, WI, 54016. Visitation begins at 1:30pm. A meal will be served after the Funeral Mass.