Gretchen Joan Cutshall
Friday, July 17, 1931
Date of Death:
Monday, October 21, 2024
Age:
93 years old
Visitation
Date: Friday November 08, 2024
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church [ view map ]
Memorial Mass
Date: Friday November 08, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church [ view map ]
Burial
Location: Calvary Cemetery [ view map ]
Friday, July 17, 1931
Date of Death:
Monday, October 21, 2024
Age:
93 years old
Friday, July 17, 1931
Date of Death:
Monday, October 21, 2024
Age:
93 years old
Gretchen Joan Cutshall
Gretchen Joan Cutshall (Gentling), 93, of Rochester passed away surrounded by her family at Saint Marys Hospital on October 21, 2024. Gretchen was born in Rochester, MN on July 17, 1931, to Harold and Nellie (Larson) Gentling. She attended and graduated from Lourdes High School in Rochester. She married David Cutshall of Rochester in 1951. They had eight children together and were divorced in 1976.
Gretchen worked at Rochester School District at Central Middle School and Willow Creek Middle School as a cook for over 20 years before she retired in 1996. She then volunteered at The Ronald McDonald House in Rochester for 27 years where she still worked as a greeter. She also served at the Church of the Resurrection helping with funerals, events, counting, and being an amazing friend to everyone. In September of 2024, she was honored with the Bishop’s Medal in grateful acknowledgement for her dedicated, generous service to Resurrection Parish.
Her 8 children, 18 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. The love for her family was unconditional and absolute.
Gretchen loved life and had the most incredible smile and laugh. Her true passion was always taking care of others, often through her amazing cooking and baking. She enjoyed hardanger stitchery, loved playing cards, watching the Vikings and Twins, dancing, making snow angels, going on walks and adventures, being with family, and sitting down and talking to everyone she met while they became instant and life-long friends with her.
She is survived by her children Daniel (Cheryl), Cathy (Bruce), Robert (Shirley), Thomas (Mary Ellen), Bradley (Susanne), William (Tawny), Gregory (Kathleen), her 18 grandchildren, and her 14 great-grandchildren and sisters Mary and Margaret. She was preceded in death by her daughter Pamela, her parents, brothers Richard, Armand, and John.
A celebration of her life will be held at 12:00 p.m. Friday, November 8th, 2024, at the Church of the Resurrection. A visitation will be held two hours prior to the service on Friday at the church followed by a reception.
The family would like to extend their appreciation for the care and support she received from the Mayo Clinic Hospital St Marys staff.
Memorials are suggested to The Ronald McDonald House of Rochester.
Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com
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Condolences
The family of Gretchen Joan Cutshall has received the following condolences.
Dear Cutshalll family,
I was not able to see all of you, but want to express my prayers and comfort to you! Whay a legacy of resilience, unconditional love, hospitality, kindness and huge heart Gretchen demonstrated to me as early as 1978! It was a joy looking at the picture boards and slide show you created... I had not seen many of you in years, but it was like the years did not matter... the memories are like yesterday!!! May you always cherish the great memories and ideals Grechen created and modeled!!!
I didn’t know Gretchen well, but she’ll always be the energizer bunny in my mind! I’d see her at Ronald McDonald House with a bucket it her hand cleaning everything in sight, with a smile on her face and a kind word to everyone! If her energy could be bottled we could go crosss country with no gas needed! I know she’ll be missed at RMH and I’m sure she’ll be missed by her fam8ly and friends. She was such an inspiration to me and I’m sure many others. I pray she’ll be looking on us from heaven and asking Jesus to bless us with her energy, kindness and love . God bless all of her family and friends, Linda
I had only known Gretchen for the last several years; much more in the last three, where I work at Walgreen's in the photo department. I was shocked and so saddened by her passing. She was so proud of her family, coming in so often to print pictures of all of you. She was always so pleasant to talk with and was always showing my co-worker Melissa and I her photos. I will truly miss seeing her but she has been promoted from an angel on earth to one in heaven now. My prayers and blessings to you all - Kimberly Nelson
I had the blessing of knowing Gretchen for the 24 years I worked at Resurrection. As I observed her retirement years, I said, I want to be like Gretchen when I retire! Family was so very important to her and she share many of the fun things they did together. I admired the way she volunteered at church and at the Ronald McDonald house. I didn't know she had a car, as I always saw her walking. She always had a smile and a hug offered to me. She was a servant of Christ and a true blessing to the Church of the Resurrection. She will be missed? May she be rejoicing with Jesus and her loved ones!
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Cutshall family. Gretchen was an Angel and a true servant of Christ Jesus. She was His hands and feet. Gretchen will be missed by me and many members of Resurrection Parish.
Barbara Tauzell
What a remarkable women your Mother was.. Raising a large family on her own and volunteering at many venues. How proud you must be. With our sympathy and prayers. Gloria and Chris Hostak
I am so sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing! She was an amazing lady. She was one of my mom’s best friends in high school (Lois Just) She visited mom weekly through her long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Even when mom no longer recognized her. It didn’t matter to Gretchen she was a true friend💕 she was also with me when my dad (Jack Just) passed away in 2021. She was such a wonderful friend to everyone and so giving of her time and talents. She was so proud of all of you.
Deb Bishop
Rest in Peace Aunt Gretchen - you were loved by so many. A beautiful soul full of life that intrigued everyone. Lots of wonderful memories we will never forget.
You will be forever in our hearts
Love Cindy ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Gretchen was a good friend. I met here at Resurrection church 30 years ago. We started a card group 20 years ago that met one Friday a month! She was a great person! Always visiting the sick and taking food to them. She will be greatly missed by everyone that knew her!
Condolences to your family for the loss of your mother, Gretchen. She was a wonderful friend to my mother and to all that she encountered.
One afternoon I picked up Gretchen and my mother from a Vikings game last November. The whole way home to Rochester she spoke so highly of her family. I was impressed how she knew every family member by their name, age, and what they were doing in their lives.
Her soul spirit will live forever in Heaven. She will be greatly missed.
Beth and Bob Mehus and family
Gretchen,what a wonderful friend you have been since our school days.
My life was blessed by knowing, working with and playing cards with Gretchen. Her faith and caring was an example to follow. She will be greatly missed by many.
October 24, 2024
To Dan & all the Cutshall family,
We are so sorry for the loss of your Mother. Loss of any loved one is painful, but the loss of one’s Mother causes a sting that reaches deep into the heart. She was such a bright light to so many, especially the parishioners of Resurrection Church.
It is hard to find the right words at a time like this, but I saw this inscribed on a tombstone in England many years ago. It seems to capture how we all feel about your Mom, & we hope it can bring some comfort to all of you.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal.
You have many great memories of Mom. We hope those memories sustain you at this difficult time. Be assured, we will pray for all of you who loved her.
Again, we send our sympathy & love, Al & Yvonne Walz
Cathy, I was saddened to read about your mom’s passing. She always had a smile on her face and always greeted me at church. You were blessed to have her all those years. May you continue to feel her loving embrace as you move ahead in the days and years to come.
Toni (Nemgar) Smith-Johnson
Our condolences to the family
Gretchen made this world a better place to all those who had the pleasure of being around her May she Rest In Peace
Very sad to hear this. She was such a great person to work with at willow creek. Proud of her family and always positive. All her knew her are better for being by her. She will be missed but never forgotten.
So sorry for your loss of a Loved One
Eternal Rest Gretchen