Gisela M. Guenst

Gisela M. Guenst, 93, of Exton PA passed away peacefully on Friday, December 6, 2019. Born in Naumburg, Germany, Gisela was the daughter of the late Martin Dux and Maria Barbrock, and the wife of Herbert M. Guenst for 49 years of loving marriage.

The fourth of twelve children, Gisela recalled her childhood in Germany fondly, marked by close and happy family ties and simple but endearing customs and traditions.  After completing her primary education, she worked as an apprentice in the hospitality industry at a family café in Fulda.  During World War II, like most young women her age, she was subject to compulsory wartime service known as Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labor Service).  During this period of service, she narrowly escaped death from Allied guns and bombs on two occasions.  In the waning weeks of the war, she had to find her way home, mostly on foot.  Her father passed away just after the war ended, leading to family hardship and struggle and requiring Gisela’s mother to care for the family alone when the youngest child was only 4 months old.

For several years in the 1950’s, she worked in a restaurant managed by an aunt and uncle in Bad Godesberg (near Bonn).  It was during this time that Gisela and her husband, who had met in kindergarten, were engaged and planned to emigrate to the United States.

In 1956, Gisela and Herbert immigrated to the United States, settling first in Mamaroneck, NY and eventually in Valhalla, NY, where they raised their family and formed many friendships.  They came to America with virtually nothing, but through hard work, frugality, and mutual love and support, they made a modest but happy life in the country they came to love. Gisela's employment in the US ranged from domestic house servant to, in later years, driving a school bus as a member of the Teamsters Union.  She also provided foster care at her home for a total of seven babies while her own children were young.  

In 1983, Herbert and Gisela built a small, cozy retirement home -- literally with their bare hands -- in the countryside near Fort Plain, NY. Here, they cultivated a large vegetable garden with fruit trees, gathered wild berries for homemade preserves and syrups, and collected wild flowers for their table. They lived there for about 20 years until Herbert's illness required them to move to Exton to be closer to their children. 

In Exton, Gisela developed a circle of very good friends, enjoying activities at the West Chester Senior Center.  She was an avid knitter/crocheter and reader (including via many books on tape in her later years, when her eyesight deteriorated).    She was a wonderful cook and baker, making simple but delicious dishes using recipes that were largely recorded only in her head.  She passed many of those recipes, along with homegrown cooking skills and culinary know-how, to her children and grandchildren.

Gisela had a photographic memory and loved to tell stories about her life in Germany, from her happy childhood through the difficult war years and beyond.  The "days gone by" came to vivid life for those who heard her stories, including especially her children and grandchildren -- the personalities and activities of family members, friends and townspeople, religious and cultural customs, making do with little, and living with an extended family (including goats, horses, pigs, and other assorted animals in basement stalls) in a half-timbered house dating to 1685 and situated on Naumburg's marktplatz (market square).    


Gisela is survived by her four children -- Carolyn Lynch (Michael) of Washington, DC; Barbara Guenst of West Chester, PA; Daniel Guenst (Jeanette) of Norman, OK, and John Guenst (Valerie) of Nashville, TN -- her eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.  She is also survived by four sisters living in Germany -- Josefine (age 97); Hildegard (age 95); Barbara (age 75) and Regina (age 74).  She was predeceased by her husband, Herbert, in 2005. In addition, seven of her siblings predeceased her: Elisabeth, Jochen, Karl, Hans, Otto, Gerhard, and Hermann.  

A Mass of Christian burial will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, December 14, 2019, at Saints Philip and James Church at 107 N Ship Rd, Exton, PA 19341 with visitation prior from 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.


In lieu of flowers, donations in Gisela’s memory can be made to the West Chester Senior Center, 530 East Union Street, West Chester, PA 19382, wcseniors.org, or the Chester County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 71 S 1st Ave, Coatesville, PA 19320, www.chescoblind.org.

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