On the evening of July 20, 2023, Gemma passed away peacefully of natural causes, surrounded and comforted by family members at the Trinity Hospital facility in Wolf Point, MT. At the time of her passing, Gemma was 83 years old.
Gemma Crowley was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin on December 8, 1939. She was the middle child, and only daughter, of Imelda Lucille Doyle and Joseph Keeley Crowley. She joined an older brother Tom, and they were later joined by their baby brother, Donald Joe (DJ).
Gemma grew up in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, attending elementary school at St. Paul Catholic School, a block from her house, graduating from the 8th grade in 1954. She attended St, Mary’s Springs Academy in Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin her freshman and sophomore years, and attended her junior and senior years at Lincoln High School in Manitowoc, graduating in 1958.
After graduating high school, Gemma attended Northwest Institute of Medical Technology in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After graduating with a Laboratory and X-Ray Technician degree in December, 1959, she took a job in Milwaukee, WI as a Medical Laboratory Technician. She received a call in the summer of 1961 from her college classmate, Barbara Smith, to see if she could come out to Wolf Point and fill in at Trinity Hospital while Barbara was going on maternity leave. Ready for a change, Gemma took up her friend on the offer, and came to call Montana her home for the past 62 years.
On June 6, 1964, Gemma married Ronnie Smith at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Manitowoc. Gemma then took a job with the Indian Health Service as a Medical Laboratory and X-Ray Technician in Poplar, Montana. Gemma and Ronnie had three sons, Craig Roy, Douglas William and Daniel Joseph.
Gemma loved her job at the IHS Clinic in Poplar, where she met many people from across the reservation, and more importantly made many lifelong friends. Her stories were endless of the fun times they had, both at the clinic and afterhours. Unfortunately, she was forced to retire in October, 1981 due to being allergic to something in the laboratory that couldn’t be identified.
After divorcing in 1985, Gemma had several different occupations. Upon the passing of her dad in June, 1988, Gemma moved back to Manitowoc to take care of her mother. Shortly after, her son Douglas moved out to Manitowoc to join her. In the early 90’s, Gemma started working as a Caregiver in Manitowoc for three gentlemen that became a very special part of her life. She enjoyed this calling immensely, until she made the decision in 2003 to return to Montana to be closer to her sons and grandkids.
Gemma had many enjoyments in life, including traveling, dining out, her dominoes and pinochle clubs, visiting with friends and hosting family get togethers. Being very social and outgoing, Gemma had many, many friends and “best friends” throughout her life. This long list of very special ladies is led by Donna Bursek Scherer, of Green Bay, WI, who was Gemma’s lifelong best friend for over 80 years, attending elementary and high school together, being each other’s maid of honor, being a godmother to one another’s oldest sons and doing family things together on the family’s annual trips to Wisconsin. They remained close to the very end of her life.
Gemma’s Catholic faith was very important to her and was the central part of her life. She was very active in the masses, celebrations and activities of the Church from childhood to her final years. Her belief in God was unwavering, and she passed that on to her children and grandchildren.
Gemma is survived by her son Craig (Leanne) of Wolf Point, MT; six grandchildren Jared Smith, Halie (Michael) Holen, Thea (Zach) Gray, Alex Smith, Bryor Smith, and Jolie Smith; great-grandchildren Adalynn Smith, Grady Holen, Kaylee Holen and Logan Holen; two brothers, Thomas Crowley and Donald Crowley; a sister-in-law Patti Schneider; four special nieces Shannon (Jeff), Colleen, Kiara (Kevin) and Keeley; lifelong best friend Donna Scherer; the three gentleman she was a Caregiver for, Phillip Pauly, Roger Kotarek and Roger Reindel; and numerous cousins.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Douglas and Daniel; her parents Joseph and Imelda Crowley; sister-in- law Nancy Crowley; and a nephew Ryan Crowley.
Gemma was the Matriarch of our family, she provided support, security and unconditional love. She will be deeply missed. We will continue to carry her memory and legacy in our hearts.
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