BERTHA MAE GOLL

Wasilla resident Bertha Mae Goll, 92, died Sept. 26, 2010 in Anchorage.

She was born in Newago County, Mich., on June 9, 1918, to William and Nora Gaffney. On Aug. 15, 1936, Bertha married Leo Goll. They celebrated 54 years of marriage prior to his death in 1990.

An active member of the deaf community, she greatly enjoyed teaching American Sign Language and telling stories to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandson. Bertha also enjoyed baking, crocheting, cross-stitch and spending time with her youngest son, Loren. She was always there to offer a kind smile, a joke and a cookie fresh from the oven.

“There are no words to describe Bertha’s kind heart. She had a genuine love for every member of her family,” the family wrote. “Her jokes were swift and could generate enough laughter to fill a room. Our family suffered a tremendous loss when our grandma was taken to heaven, but we are comforted in knowing that she is safe in the arms of her husband, Leo, and two of her children, Gloria and Calvin. We love you Gramma, and will forever miss you.”

Bertha is survived by her son, Loren Goll of Wasilla; sister, Margaret Armstrong of Tucson, Ariz.; grandchildren, Steve and Lauri McElroy, and Lonnie and Scott Goll; great-grandchildren, Sierra, Stephen and Jamie McElroy, Briston Goll and Michael Chafin, and great-great-grandson, Lane McElroy.

Funeral service for Bertha will be in Blissfield, Mich., at 2 p.m. Oct. 2, at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel, with Pastor Shirrel Petzoldt officiating. Burial will follow at Palmyra Cemetery in Palmyra, Mich. Condolences may be sent to wagleyfuneralhome.com. Memorial contributions in memory of Bertha may be made to the Good Shepherd Deaf Lutheran Church, 5859 Elmer Drive, Toledo, Ohio 43615.

Local arrangements were made by Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel & Crematory of Wasilla.