Gertrude Marie Fiscus

FISCUS - Gertrude Marie (Puhala), 93; East Conemaugh, died November 8, 2024.  Born May 13, 1931 at Mercy Hospital, daughter of John and Jennie (Basista) Puhala. Preceded in death by parents; husband, James; son, Michael; sister, Vivian and her husband Paul Brown; brother, Richard; and brother-in-law, Joseph Spampinato.  Survived by sister, Joan Spampinato; sister-in-law, Carol (Grey) Puhala; stepdaughters, Barbara Kusher and husband Frank, and Marcia Holt; 6 step grandchildren, 6 step great-grandchildren and 6 step great great-grandchildren.  Also survived by nieces and nephews for the Brown family, Terri, Jon, Paula and David; and Puhala family, Zachary and Alexis.  Gertrude graduated from Johnstown Senior High School in 1949 and then the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1952.  During her 40 year nursing career, she worked in many departments at Mercy Hospital and as a Red Cross nurse, serving polio patients in a hospital in Plainview, TX.  In 1955 she joined the USN Navy Corp. and served in the Oaknoll Navy Hospital in Oakland, CA; where she was promoted to Lt. J.G.  Discharged in 1957, she returned to Johnstown and Mercy Hospital where she and two other nurses organized the IV Team. She was the 3 to 11 supervisor and head nurse of the ICU, Director of Nursing of Mercy Hospital and Mercy Nursing Care Center.  After her retirement in 1993, she was one of two nurses who coordinated the Senior Peer Counseling Service of SVdP, until the group was dissolved.  She was the first president of the Cambria-Somerset Retired Nurses Organization, which still exists today.  She was an avid bowler in many leagues, including the MERLO League.  She is a member of the Church of the Transfiguration, where she had served as lector and Eucharistic Minister.  The family would like to thank Conemaugh Hospice and caregiver Monica Rose, for their compassionate care.  At the request of Gertrude, there will be no public viewing.  Friends and family are welcomed to attend Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, at the Church of the Transfiguration in Conemaugh, the Rev. Timothy Harris, T.O.R.  Committal will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Arrangements by Francis G. Ozog Funeral Home Inc. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church of the Transfiguration or to the charity of your choice, in memory of Gertrude Fiscus.

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