Gertrude M. Rozantz

 Gertrude Martin Rozantz 
It is with an extremely sad heart that we announce the passing of our mother, Gert Rozantz. As Gert would say, “ I cashed in my last winning ticket on Thursday, October 5, 2023.” Gert was born in Trafford, Pa on July 1, 1932. She attended Norwin High School and wants it to be known that she was a head majorette for the band, played basketball, and was really good looking! If you don’t know, she had a wonderful sense of humor. We are so grateful that she was on this earth for 91 years, but it still wasn’t long enough. 

She absolutely loved her family, football, horse racing, and gambling. I think she saw more football games than anyone alive, between little gridders, high school, college, pro games, and every weekend on the tv. She even won the Erie Times football poll once. She absolutely loved sports and that was passed on to all of us. She adored going to the racetrack especially back in the days of the old Commodore Downs where her husband Walt owned and trained horses. Needless to say, she was good at betting but not always winning!

She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto Martin & Lyda Sharp Martin VanAtten, her stepfather, Harry VanAtten, her husband Walter Rozantz, her “son” Armand Sadlier, and her beloved dogs, Sam, Callie, Major, Heidi, Shadow, Ginger as well as Emily the cat (even though no body liked that damn cat, and the way she attacked you, I’m not even sure she liked you! But she’s worth a mention.) She would also have liked to have mentioned that she adored her friends Shirley Gardner and Marie Gresh who passed on ahead of her and hopefully are holding a spot for her for movie night. 

She is survived by her children, Walter R. (Rick) Rozantz (Gail), Thomas Rozantz (Cathy), Cheryl Dalton. Grandchildren Erin Dalton, Chris Nunez, Andrea Patton, Casey Patton, Taylor Rozantz, Derek Rozantz, and Raven Rozantz. Great grandchildren, Oliver, Jack & Elsie Nunez, as well as many nieces and nephews. She will also be greatly missed by her best friend and scrabble partner Veronica Regel. We also must include her other “son” Larry Loper. He spent so much time at our house my Mom just sort of thought of him as one of her own. 
Everyone that knew her loved her and she will be missed beyond measure. She was especially grateful to the friends she made at Martin’s Landing that looked out for her and Rita who brought her those wonderful meals, desserts, and adult beverages at night and truly made her feel loved. And a special thank you to Debbie and Patty who took great care of her. 

If you want to honor her, do it by placing a bet the next time you are at the racetrack, on any horse with the name Prince in it, any grey horse, or any horse Tom or Cathy run, or her lucky numbers 2 &6. If it wins, have a drink on her and donate the rest to the Anna Shelter. She would have really liked that.

There will be no viewing hours, because she didn’t want it, but we will have a celebration of a life well lived in the Spring.

Gert loved a good time, lots of laughter, drinking, and dancing, and wanted everyone to know, as Frank Sinatra said, “She did it her way”. Rest in Peace Mom, you earned it. 

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