Gisela (Liebenthal) Bigden - Fisher |
| Posted 2008-07-03 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Sunday, June 29, 2008 Gisela Bigden-Fisher, recently of Prescott Valley, but for 45 years of Marin County, Calif., passed away peacefully on Monday, June 9, 2008, surrounded and held by loved ones. Gisela was young at heart and full of life at 66 years of age until she collapsed unexpectedly at her home from a ruptured brain aneurysm. Born July 22, 1941, in Konigsburg, East Prussia, (now known as Kaleningrad, Russia), Gisela Irmgard Liebenthal, born of Alfons and Irmgard Liebenthal, was the youngest of six children, having entered the world a few minutes behind her twin brother, Heinz. Gisela’s life was full of travel (with a variety of harrowing escapes throughout Germany during WWII). As a child, she had read about (and dreamed about) San Francisco, and she vowed that she would see it someday. That she did, arriving in 1963. Having fallen in love with the Bay Area from afar, she spent most of her life there. For many years, Gisela lived in Corte Madera and Sausalito, Calif., raising her two children, Monica and Maurice. She worked her way up in the banking industry, ultim ately becoming an Assistant Vice President of Branch Operations for Bank of America, receiving the Special Presidential Award for her outstanding contribution to one of the first National Home Banking programs. Later, she joined Bank of Marin, where she took great joy and pride in being a part of the bank’s growth throughout the county. Before her retirement as Vice President of Merchant Sales in 2005, she epitomized the concept of “legendary customer service,” using her effervescent personality to look after existing business partnerships and to cultivate new ones. Gisela moved to Prescott Valley upon retirement in 2006. She loved the Southwest and loved the new friends she made. She attended Bradshaw Mountain Assembly under Pastor Leigh and found a nurturing environment in her Bible Study groups and her fellow parishioners. Even in retirement, she was an avid sports enthusiast who played a vigorous game of tennis the day before her passing and who was preparing to seriously undertake horseback riding in this rodeo town she loved. But her ultimate passion was hiking, whether in the Marin Headlands or the Prescott Valley Hills with her dog. When she was not enjoying the great outdoors, she was decorating her home or helping to beautify the homes of those she loved. Gisela is survived by her husband of 20 years, Richard Fisher of Prescott Valley; her two children, Monica Wixted of San Diego, and Maurice Big-den Jr. of Prescott Valley; and her four grandchildren, Kristopher, Danika, Maurice III and Lexington. Her grandchildren were especially dear to her, and she loved watching them discover what a true “Omi” (the German word for Grandmother) can be. Also missing her will be her family in Germany and her husband’s extended family living in Texas. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to any one of Gisela’s endeared charities: The Bradshaw Mountain Assembly, Yavapai Humane Society, United Animal Friends, Bradshaw Mountain Wildlife Association, or the American Breast Cancer Society. A Remembrance of Life will take place in Marin County this summer. The date is to be announced soon. Please contact Monica Wixted at mwixted@lycos.com or 619-981-8478 for further details. Information provided by survivors. |
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