Gertrude T. Dunne, 85, passed away January 8, 2008 at the Benjamin Borden Health Center in Lexington, VA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Terrence Dunne and Margaret Gallery and a sister, Dr. Mary McIlwain.

She is survived by a sister, Margaret Emmert of Florida, two very special friends, Rita Duffy of Lexington, VA and Phyllis Coughlin of Hopkinton, MA. In addition, she is survived by many loving nieces and nephews, several grandnieces, a grandnephew, and a host of devoted friends and former colleagues.

"Gerri" was born in Brooklyn, NY on February 5, 1922. Although her Dad had been hoping for a boy, he decided to teach Gerri what he would have taught to a son, and so she grew up learning the rudiments of carpentry, plumbing and electricity. She was able to put this knowledge to good use in her adult life. As a young girl she learned to play the violin and the trumpet and later in life as an accomplished violinist she became the concert master in a community orchestra.

She was graduated from Bishop McDonnell High School in Brooklyn in June of 1939. In the fall of that year she entered the Sisters of St. Dominic, a religious order in Amityville, LI. During her many years as a member of that congregation she earned both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Mathematics from St. John's University. She taught on the elementary, secondary and college levels. Gerri was known as a dedicated teacher who enjoyed her days in the classroom. She made Math understandable, practical and fun for her students. Her extra curricular interests included photogprahy, directing high school crews in building sets for their school drama productions, and driving a school bus to sports events. In addition to working in the classroom, she served as an assistant high school principal.

In later years she because a supervisor in the New York City Title I program. This was a federally funded program to help students who were having difficulty in Math and/or Reading. Gerri's responsibility was to help and supervise the teachers in the Math program. This entailed daily travel to parochial and public schools in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. During this time she also co-authored a Math workbook designed to aid students with their Math problem-solving. In 1989, after 17 years working with the Title I program, Gerri retired.

In 1991 she moved to Lexington with her long-standing friends, Rita and Ted Duffy. She enjoyed rural living and was active in her church and community. She served a number of years as a volunteer for the local Hospice and Habitat for Humanity. She enjoyed traveling and visiting friends and family up north. In July of 2000, because of health problems, she because a resident at the newly established retirement community, Kendal at Lexington. As a resident she enjoyed the many activities that were available to her. Many of the other residents and staff enjoyed her company, admired her resiliency and cherry attitude, her sense of humor and her kindness.

A Christian Wake service will be held at the Harrison Funeral Home in Lexington at 6 p.m. on Friday, January 18th. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Joseph D'Aurora at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Lexington at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 19th. Memorials may be made to the Rockbridge Area Hospice, P.O. Box 948, Lexington, VA 24450, to the St. Patrick's Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 725, Lexington, VA 24450, or to the American Parkinson Disease Association, 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305.

Arrangements are being handled by the Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, Virginia.