ELIZABETH MARGARET "BETSY" GERSTUNG

December 13, 1934 – March 18, 2023

Betsy is the beloved mother of Christina, Susanna, Matthew, Margaret, and Alice Mary; mother-in-law to Camy and Mark; grandmother to Clare, Edwin, Christina, Maria, Justo, Greta, Amelia, Maggie, Mac, Grace, and Clare; and great-grandmother to Brecken, Laine, and Maria. She is a loved aunt, cousin, friend, mentor, and inspiration to people too numerous to count. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Judge Robert "Bob" Gerstung, with whom she created a loving and boisterous family and shared 34 years of a faith-filled marriage.

Born and raised in the Parkville neighborhood of Baltimore, Betsy attended St. Ursula's elementary school. She revealed her imagination at a young age when she and her playmates formed the Linwood Avenue Regiment of Little Orphan Annie's Junior Commandos during WW II. They patrolled with signal flags bought from the dime store, imprisoned the enemy in a potato sack in her garage, and generally protected the neighborhood from invasion. Her creative mind continued to blossom as she attended Seton High School, where she was involved in theater and the school paper. The "girls from Seton" maintained life-long friendships, meeting for lunch in the later years at The Peppermill, humorously dubbed "God's Waiting Room".

After high school, not being able to afford college, Betsy entered the work force. She obtained a unique position as an assistant to a noted psychiatrist, Dr. Frank Ayd. With her intellect and talents, she assisted Dr. Ayd in his clinical practice and research and writing of academic papers until she married. She was more than an employee and became part of the very large Ayd family. The Gerstungs and Ayds remain closely connected to this day.

Betsy and Bob met in their 20s as members of a Catholic faith and service ministry, the way people looking to marry met before dating apps. They married at St. Ursula's in 1959 and soon started a family. Bob was a lawyer, involved in politics, ran for office, and became a distinguished judge and college teacher. Betsy did it all with him while raising their children - campaigning, conversing about politics and religion, attending political and philanthropic events, and hosting holiday and social events where all were welcome. From her own personal experience of having her most special daughter, Margaret, Betsy advocated for and supported better opportunities for children and adults with special needs.

In the summers, Betsy would pack the kids up and head to Betterton in Kent County, where Bob's family had a small cottage rental business on the Sassafras River. For decades Betsy was devoted to helping the family run the business, which is still operating and enjoyed today. Over the years, Betsy made many friends in Kent County, who admire her and will miss her wit and conversation.

Betsy was a life-long learner. She started taking college classes while the children were growing up and persisted until she achieved her B.A. in Communications from Notre Dame College at the age of 60. She earned her real estate license along the way and also travelled around parts of the U.S collecting demographic data and information for a research firm.

Her creativity was encouraged as a member of The Wednesday Writers, who published a book of poems and short essays entitled - Filling in the Dash - . Betsy contributed two essays to this collection of writings by ordinary people telling the extraordinary stories of their lives that fill in the dash on the tombstone between their dates of birth and death.  Betsy eloquently wrote her memories of the neighborhood junior commandos and the death of her mother when Betsy was not yet five years old.

Betsy was a devout Catholic, who encouraged others in their faith. She took comfort in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and was uplifted by her sisters in the Sodality at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

As an only child who lost her mother at a tender age, family was the most important thing to her second to faith.  She often expressed her gratitude and wonder that she and Bob were able to create the family that she did not have, one that would continue into future generations. She has left her family, extended family, and friends with an example of how to keep faith in God, be grateful for the joys, persevere through the sorrows, and always strive to grow in mind and spirit.

Betsy "filled in the dash" of her life well indeed.

A funeral mass will be held for Betsy at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Towson, Maryland at 10:00 AM on April 14, 2023, followed by burial at Parkwood Cemetery on Taylor Avenue in Baltimore.

In lieu of flowers, donations to support the education and lives of special needs children and adults may be made to the following, and please reference the name of Betsy Gerstung:

Benedictine Foundation, at mailing address of 14299 Benedictine Lane, Ridgely, MD 21660

Or online at https://Benschool.org