Clara Virginia 'Gang' Cosgrave July 15, 1912 ~ October 14 2009

Pictured here is Mags grandmother, 'Gang' and Meself. This was taken sometime last year I believe.

This is a hard post to write. I really don't know if my words can do her justice but I'm going to give it a whirl.

'Gang', as she is known by most everyone who knew her, passed away on October 14th. I got the call at work from a crying Mags. "Gang died," was really all she could say. I told her how sorry I was and told her I would be home from work soon.

Gang was born to parents Harry H. and Clara V Getzendanner Wolfe. The Wolfes had 8 little ones total and Gang was the last surviving of them all. On the day Gang was born, Taft was in office, Photography had been invented & Teddy Roosevelt was shot by a saloon keeper just before he was to give a speech. With a fresh wound and bullet in him, he would give said speech although he would lose to Woodrow Wilson. After Wilson, Gang saw 16 more Presidents elected including the countries first African-American President, our man "B".

Irving Berlin was in vogue as well as a thriving blues and Jazz scene in Chicago and New Orleans.

Folk music legend Woody Guthrie missed sharing her birthday by only a few hours.

She, in her younger days, was fond of going to the local 'beer joint' and cutting the rug. She met and married Robert Lester Cosgrave (who would go on to become one of Montgomery Counties first motorcycle officers) and they settled into Silver Spring, Md where they would have two girls, Virginia (Bubs) and Judy.

She was heavily involved in her grand children's lives, Mags and her siblings living just a few feet away when they were growing up in the area. She helped raise them and was an influential part of their lives.

She was a great cook and although there were times they had little food or money, she would always share what she had. A lot of people claim to be good Christians and good people, but Gang was the real deal. She professed her love for the Lord and prayed several times a day. And not just for herself, everyone. You could call Gang at any time and ask her to pray for you and she would. Sometimes, if you wanted her to, she would pray on the phone with/for you. Folks referred to her as a 'prayer warrior'. My prayers go into God's inbox, but when Gang prayed, he cleared the phones and took her calls.

She made several trips a year to New Jersey to visit the New Jersey Cosgrave clan and I am glad I go to spend the time with her I did in the 9 years I knew her. She was as sweet as I am short and she truly loved everyone. She was a great cook and actually drove her own car until two years ago and tended her own garden and cooked all her own meals up until last year.

There were many trials in her life but she never lost her faith. It's what go her through the tough times and what helped her life to be 97 years old.

Earlier in the year she was diagnosed with breast cancer and she held on, fighting every step, until she could not longer battle. She wanted actually, to die at 97 like her mother did before her, which she did and when she died, she did so peacefully in her home with a smile on her face.

The service in Maryland yesterday was very well done. Gang would have been pleased. Several people stood up and spoke and there was music and of course a lot of tears. A tribute to the person that was Gang.

Gang leaves behind 2 daughters, 9 grand children, 19 great grand children and nine great-great grandchildren. not to mention a boatload of nieces and nephews. Not to mention a lifetime of happy memories. All who knew her loved her.

The world has lost one of it's finest inhabitants but Heaven has gained a bright new star.

Gang we love you and will miss you always.

“Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace.” ~ Oscar Wilde