ForeverMissed
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Gertrude's memorial celebration will be held on January 3rd at the Hillside Club in Berkeley. As she requested, there will be dancing and music at her memorial:

Where: Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar Street (at Arch St.) Berkeley CA 94709

When:   12:00 dancing

              1:00 Memorial

              2:00 - 3:30 dancing and mingling

Parking: two-hour neighborhood parking


This memorial website was created in memory of Gertrude Khuner. She was an inspiration to us all, and we will remember her forever.

She has touched so many lives, and we invite you to share memories, pictures, and thoughts.


December 3, 2021
December 3, 2021
I've been thinking about Gertrude lately. The family has had large Thanksgiving and Hanukkah celebrations in the last few weeks and when I see all the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren (and spouses) together and feel the love, I remember the most remarkable, matriarchal woman that was my mother.
April 23, 2021
April 23, 2021
With the NB Senior Center closed tis year I no longer lead the class I learn from Gertrude. But Shary & I have our own class weekly with the same material. May she always be remembered.
April 23, 2020
April 23, 2020
Every day I hear my mother's voice. Sometimes she is very wise. Sometimes she is just nagging. Always she is my mother. May her name be a blessing.
April 23, 2019
April 23, 2019
Shary and I remember Gertrude every week at the Exercise to Music class that she taught and that I continue to teach.
December 9, 2018
December 9, 2018
Gertrude, you are always remembered. I keep leading the exercise to music class you started and your memory continues to inspire us all. Love, Marv & Shary
April 24, 2018
April 24, 2018
We often tell people how inspiring Gertrude was to us. And I continue to teach her exercise class at the senior center.

Love,
Marv and Shary
April 26, 2017
April 26, 2017
On Monday April 24th, 2017 , The Line dance class of North Berkeley Senior center remembered Gertrude by dancing the dances that she taught us so many years ago. Some wore the red Gertrude T-shirts. Yes, the dancing and listening to the music brought back memories. For a moment we felt united. We were in one accord, dancing following the same rhythm and remembering her face, her voice,
her small frame moving inspiring us all.
After two hours of dancing, the group went to a Chinese dimsum place called Asian Pearl to feast and celebrate Gertrude's 104th birthday.

What has Gertrude accomplished in her departure?
Now in North Berkeley Senior Center , Line dancing is alive and well. In fact, it has expanded. More people are teaching and more classes are available and more people are enjoying the opportunity to dance at old age.
In addition, in Albany there is now a senior line dancing class just for the over 65. The class is diverse, it includes immigrants from different parts of the world such as Peru, Iraq, Taiwan, Korea, China and England.
If Gertrude were alive she would have loved to see the elderly immigrants dancing. She would have loved to see her students taking the paton and following her ambition. She would smile and nod her head.


Julia
April 23, 2016
April 23, 2016
Today Gertrude (aka Grandma, Mom) would have been 103 years young. Her spirit is still dancing in many hearts. Take a moment to remember her!
May 7, 2015
May 7, 2015
On April 30th 2015, at North Berkeley Senior Center, Gertrude's Line Class celebrated her birthday by wearing red in her honor and dancing to her favorite tunes. Her former students keep the fire burning -> 3 classes a week, Monday, Thursday and Friday. Teachers are : Muriel O, Nikki G, Suzanne M, Jane C, Carrie H, Grace S, Masako V, Martha H, Mark R. I myself have started a class in Albany with Gertrude's blessings. And now eighty year old seniors are line dancing. Thanks to Gertrude. She is still our role model.
Happy Birthday Gertrude! How can we forget you!
Julia
April 23, 2015
April 23, 2015
Shary & I continue to think about Gertrude and the inspiration she has been to us and to all those that shared her class with us. May her memory live on forever.
April 23, 2015
April 23, 2015
In life, in death, Gert is ageless. Today she is 102. Can't you just see her dancing on the horizon?
January 13, 2014
January 13, 2014
I am one of Gertrude line dancing students at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Most of her students had been there for a very long time. I myself had been there for about five years. Like myself, most of her students there were recent immigrants of Asian origin. And like myself most students there had never dance before. So having a teacher like Gertrude was such a blessing. She had been an inspiration to all of us. For me, line dancing opened up a new world of music and movements. Songs that I have never heard before and steps that I have never even seen before now become part of me. Gertrude was inclusive. It did not matter if we did not speak English well, nor did it matter if we did not behave properly. She accepted us as we were. After attending her memorial at Cedar street, I began to understand her cultural , religious and family background. It gave me a window to see how one life touches another and another. Recently, I have just begun teaching line dancing at the Albany Senior Center ( since September). And I had the chance to tell Gertrude about that. I asked her for a piece of advise. And she replied : " choose good music". She was indeed my role model. Thank you again Gertrude for teaching us line dancing!!!
January 2, 2014
January 2, 2014
Gertrude, 40 yrs my senior, always seemed like a co-conspirator in utter folkdance fun, balanced with a commonsense approach about how to spread the fun. I’ll never forget her in her 90s coming down my steps and then writing down instructions as a demonstrated some “new” dances she needed for her group. Nor will I forget some of the great dances she taught me. I treasured her razor sharp hold on reality combined with her warm generosity. She has set the bar for me, and part of her will always live in me.
December 31, 2013
December 31, 2013
I have lived a life of music and dance since 1966, very much due to Gertrude Khuner and her family. Thank you to all for your continuing presence in my life.
December 21, 2013
December 21, 2013
While I am saddened to hear of Gertrude's passing, I also celebrate her life, appreciating much, that I shared many good times with her. I felt a special honor, having the opportunity to spend time with her.
I cherished her approach to life, living it to the fullest, with optimal vigor that her body granted as she aged. Often I was impressed by her internal flame, with her energy and curiosity. I looked forward to seeing her when I came to visit the family, hoping to spend some one-on-one time for good conversation.
My thoughts and prayers are with Gertrude's soul, and her close knit family,
December 15, 2013
December 15, 2013
Gertrude was an inspiration! After I had taught Fitness and Dance to Older Adults for many years, Gertrude guided me in teaching Line Dance. She taught me dances, showed me how to modify steps, and shared her down to earth approach to teaching. I am so grateful to have known her. I will always remember the 95 chocolate covered strawberries that were prepared for her 95th Birthday at our LifeLong
Learning Staff Meeting of the Berkeley Adult School.
December 15, 2013
December 15, 2013
What a gift to have know Gertrude for so many years. She was loving, fun and a joy to be with. May her memory be a blessing.
December 15, 2013
December 15, 2013
It was a pleasure to know Gertrude and to eventually assist her in the Exercise to Music class. She has been an incredible inspiration. I hope I can continue to lead the class as long as she did. Shary Levy adds: I feel so fortunate to have known Gertrude and to have been part of her exercise class. Yes, she was a true inspiration and a kind person.
December 11, 2013
December 11, 2013
No one loved more fiercely, lived more joyously, or danced more beautifully than my grandma, Gertrude Khuner. Her love for family and community, propensity for life-long learning, and of course, her wonderful sense of humor, will inspire me always.

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December 3, 2021
December 3, 2021
I've been thinking about Gertrude lately. The family has had large Thanksgiving and Hanukkah celebrations in the last few weeks and when I see all the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren (and spouses) together and feel the love, I remember the most remarkable, matriarchal woman that was my mother.
April 23, 2021
April 23, 2021
With the NB Senior Center closed tis year I no longer lead the class I learn from Gertrude. But Shary & I have our own class weekly with the same material. May she always be remembered.
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