Joyce Anita Gagalski

Joyce A Gagalski of Rock Hall, MD died on January 5, 2024. She was 86 years old. She was born in Piney Neck, McKindleyville, Rock Hall on November 19, 1937 to the late Maywood Taylor Vansant Crouch and Scott Hilsboro Vansant. She attended Piney Neck and then Skinners Neck schools. When they closed, she went to Rock Hall Elementary and Middle Schools. She graduated from Rock Hall High School with the class of 1955, where she was president of the student council, editor & chief of the school newspaper, and editor of the school yearbook. She was also a cheerleader and played softball and fieldball. On August 25, 1956 she married Robert Elsworth Gagalski of Rock Hall. She began working at a very early age, around 6 to 8 years old, sweeping floors for stores in exchange for candy. She worked at Tolchester Amusement Park during the summers and even tried to work at the Rock Hall Sewing Factory, but was sent home (even though she could sew) for being too young by law to work at only 14 years old. She also took care of her baby brother Larry and kept house and cooked meals so her mother could go to work. When she graduated high school, she began working for Stenger Hardware in Rock Hall as a bookkeeper. After she was married, she moved to Georgia and then Germany with her husband who was in the Army. After returning home she worked at the Register of Wills office, then transferred to the Kent County Treasurers Office as a Deputy Treasurer, where she remained until her retirement in 2007. Her work as a public servant spanned 44 years. During those years she also did the bookkeeping for her husband’s business, she was a seamstress, a housekeeper, and a wedding planner for family and friends. She enjoyed scrapbooking, photography, painting, videotaping her family and events, cooking, playing the keyboard, writing poetry and songs, traveling with her family, gardening, as well as sewing and designing clothing. She loved helping people and always strived to do the right thing. Of all the things she accomplished in her life, the best and most meaningful things to her were her children and grandchildren. They were her greatest joy. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Robert “Robbie” E. Gagalski, Jr. She is survived by her children: Kristi Osborn (R.J.) of Rock Hall, Tiffani Hague (David Hacker) of Chestertown, and Craig Gagalski (Melissa Ferrone) of Rock Hall; a brother, Larry Crouch of Rock Hall; and grandchildren: Taylor Osborn Strong (Matt), Hunter Hague (Callie Turner), Olivia Gagalski Eichler (Caleb), Jacob Gagalski, and Alexa Hague; and great-grandchild, Waylon Hague. Services will be held on Thursday, January 11 at 1:00 pm at Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home in Chestertown. A visitation will be held prior from 11:30 to 1:00 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company at P.O. Box 577, Rock Hall, MD 21661.

Joyce Anita Gagalski

November 19, 1937 - January 5, 2024