Gretchen K. (Kovack) Pappas

Gretchen K. Pappas age 52 passed away April 4th 2024. She is the beloved wife of James Pappas and mother to Maddie Pappas and Ryan Pappas. She is the loving daughter of Dave and Janice Kovack, best sister of Rebecca Lubben and dear aunt of Joey Lubben, and Sarah Lubben. She is also survived by her grandmother, Helen Flickinger and father-in-law, Tony Pappas and by a loving extended family. Gretchen had a long and winding road. She scratched, clawed, screamed, yelled, and fought for seven plus years. She even won a few battles here and there. Gretchen never gave up, even when she lost more battles than she won. She viewed it as just another day to put on her armor. But this day she was relieved of her duty. God called her most stubborn five-star general home. No more needles, no more surgeries, no more procedures, no more scans, no more emergency room visits, no more doctors, no more pain. We will miss her terribly, but we will remember her joyfully. She was much more than her disease. It may have clouded the past few years, but cancer did not define her. Gretchen was extremely generous, kind, thoughtful and patient, Her capacity to love defined her. I do not want people to forget that she was a great artist, craftsman, a great friend, and best mother to Maddie and Ryan! She always thought of others first and bought presents for friends and for those she just met. Her generosity and caring for others was boundless. So, I hope this is how she will always be remembered. Not by the years of fighting a dreaded disease, but by many more years of being a great mother, wife, daughter, teacher, friend, and servant to others in need. And me, a mere foot soldier compared to my General, will forever be grateful and truly blessed to have been her husband. I will always love you Gretchen! Gretchen’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 204 Sixth St. NW, Barberton. Calling Hours Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. at the Silva-Hostetler Funeral Home, 1199 Wooster Rd. West, Barberton. In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorial donations be made to support The Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research (313899) at the OSU James Cancer Hospital and SOLOVE Research Institute.

Gifts may be made online here or by mail at PO Box 710811, Columbus, Oh 43271-0811. Stand alone link to donate. Copy and paste into your browser: https://www.giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/details/313899?Source_Code=AGAG-TRM-S-PP-MemTrib&Fund=313899 (All gifts received in Gretchen’s memory will go to The Spielman Fund unless the donor requests otherwise.)

To share a memory, send a condolence or view her Video-Gift tribute, please visit www.Silva-Hostetler.com.