Born Apolonia “Loni” Gerich, November 1st, 1929 in Brestovich, Yugoslavia to Josef and Katherina Manhard Gerich, Loni was one of three daughters and six brothers.
Beloved by family, friends and acquaintances, Loni passed peacefully from this life into eternity on July 20th, 2026 at 5:35 pm. She was 96.
Loni immigrated through Ellis Island with her older brother Nick in 1951, a suitcase in hand and a one way train ticket to Mansfield, Ohio in her pocket. She and her brother would be joined by the rest of her family on February 14, 1952, reuniting in America from war torn Europe. What had been a dream and a hope became reality: a new start in life, and the setting down of roots together.
Loni found employment at The Mansfield Knitting Company where she worked 8 hour shifts, supplemented by evenings cleaning offices in downtown Mansfield. Eventually her hard work, along with her mother and her father’s efforts, afforded their first purchased home at 628 Morrison Avenue in 1957. That residence would be hospitality central for family and friends, a gathering place where warm family memories grew over the decades to come.
On June 13, 1964 Loni married the love of her life, Donald Gauche. Together they cared for Loni’s parents, choosing to reside together until Loni’s Mom passed in 1985 and her Dad passed in 1991. Towards the end of her husband’s life, Loni continued her caretaking, ministering to his needs in their home until he passed on August 18, 2010. Though having no children of their own, Loni and Don had countless nieces and nephews who knew and loved them both.
Loni continued her language of love from her kitchen long after her mother, father and husband entered heavens gates. With her hands she made the tastiest breads, pastries, cookies and German meals, usually without any recipe and certainly using her very own measuring metrics. Her kitchen was the heartbeat of a home radiating the aromas of love, so the best way to learn “Loni’s language” was in her kitchen, watching her in action. She resigned her apron only a few years ago but never stopped loving people and telling her stories of “The Old Country.”
Four siblings preceded Loni Gauche in death: her older sister Rosal Gerich Prietzel, older brother Nick Gerich, and two younger brothers Anton “Tony” Gerich and Gerhart Gerich.
Loni’s surviving siblings are Frank Gerich, Joe (MaryAnn) Gerich, Lani Gerich (Robert) Koch and Horst (Peggy) Gerich.
During her brief span of incapacity, Loni received loving attention and care from the nurses of Southern Care Hospice at Wedgewood Estates, passing away peacefully into eternity. She is greatly missed.
On August 1st from 9 a.m. to 11a.m, family and friends will receive all who knew and loved Loni at Resurrection Parish on Lexington Avenue where Loni attended mass. Father Nick Weibl and Father Kishore Kottana will conduct Loni’s funeral mass immediately after visitation. A motorcade to Lexington Cemetery will follow the service where Loni will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Don.
Following burial, Resurrection Parish will host refreshments in their fellowship hall for a time of remembering Loni, and a life well lived.
Floral tributes may be delivered to the church or memorial donations in honor of Loni may be made to Resurrection Parish on site.
Online condolences may be made by visiting: SnyderFuneralHomes.com
Funeral Home: Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home
Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com