Gisela came to the Ladybirds for the first time just under a year ago from this date. The chorus was performing for the opening of the Farmers’ Market in June of last year. Gisela heard our group singing and she stopped to speak with us. Naturally, we invited her to come join the chorus, and she did! She sang lead in the group and also demonstrated her talents by singing in German. She and Ellie sang Silent Night in German at many gigs during the past Christmas season. People always enjoyed hearing Gisela sing in German!

Gisela was a fun person to be around. She always had lots to tell her Ladybird friends about events in her life when she lived in Germany. She was there during World War II and described in vivid detail how she was close by when bombing was occurring. She was brave to have experienced all that and survived. She told us about losing track of her mother and how she persisted in finding her to be sure she was all right.

Who would have thought that Gisela would be with us for such a short time? She will be sorely missed, as she was a real asset to the chorus. She was very dedicated to learning her music and attending rehearsals and performances regularly. She always looked very nice which enhanced the appearance of the chorus, while her voice enhanced the sound of the chorus. We thank Gisela for joining our group, even for such a short time. We were blessed to have her with us!

Gisela W. Sword, 65 of Cumberland, Maryland, died Friday, May 7, 2004, at Sacred Heart Hospital. She was born in Frankfurt, Germany, the daughter of the late Karla and Klara B. (Keller) Roettger.

Gisela was a homemaker. She belonged to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church and the Ladybird Barbershop Harmony Singers.

Survivors include her husband, Mel Sword; three daughters, Michaela Sword-Tress and husband, Will, Pasadena, Angela Hallock, Highland Lake, New York and Carla Felvis, Cumberland, Maryland. There was one brother, Michael Roettger, Frankfurt, Germany; seven grandchildren survive Gisela. The Ladybirds had the honor of meeting one of these, Davie Geiger, who participated in our Saint Patrick’s Day program at the Embassy Theatre in March.

The Ladybirds graciously accepted an invitation to sing in Gisela’s honor at the funeral home (Upchurch) on Monday night, May 10, 2004.