Gerda Agathe Maleman, a long-time resident of Mission Viejo, died peacefully Saturday the 20th of April in La Jolla with her family by her side.

Born in 1934 in Flawil, St. Gallen, Switzerland, Gerda was a professional seamstress before earning her nursing degree.

She emigrated to the United States in 1967, married Richard Walter Maleman and relocated to Southern California. She was a loving mother and grandmother who always put the dreams of others ahead of her own. She loved cooking, gardening and spoiling her four grandchildren.

A devout Catholic, her faith sustained her through good times and bad.

She is interred at Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest.

She is survived by her husband, Richard; son, Geoff; daughter, Michelle; four grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Sydney, Owen and Ethan; brother, Leo; sisters, Ida, Marie, Marti, Margaret and Gate.

Memorial gifts may be made to: Upward Bound House, 1104 Washington Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403.