Sedena Gingerich – 95

Sedena Gingerich, Canton, Ohio, passed away while amongst family members on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

Born on December 27, 1929 in Altoona, PA to Wilbur and Helen Rutter, Sedena was the oldest of 4 children. Her siblings in birth order: Robert Rutter (Indianapolis), Ortie Henderson (d. 2016), Dorine Nail (Altoona).

Born and raised in Altoona, Sedena started writing to the neighborhood boy while she was in high school and he was in the Philippines during WWII. Upon being honorably discharged from the Army in January 1946, Staff Sargent Medic Merrill Gingerich returned to Altoona. Helen told Merrill he had to wait until Seneda graduated high school to marry her. Sedena graduated from Altoona High School's 72nd Commencement on June 4, 1948. On July 5, 1948, Mr. and Mrs. Merrill Gingerich tied the knot in Altoona.

It was in Altoona, where Sedena and Merrill started their family. First born was their son, Leslie E. Gingerich (Butch) was born on December 4, 1949 (d. 9.13.2003). On July 13, 1954, they welcomed their daughter, Karen L. Gingerich. They had one more son, David M. Gingerich, on January 16, 1958. Shortly after the birth of Dave, the Gingerich family moved to Canton, Ohio in the spring of 1958.

After a working at Timken and Traffic Council in theirs accounting department and bored with pecking away on a typewriter, Sedena followed her boss to start a new accounting firm to do something more exciting. Little did she know, that would change her life. While the newly formed accounting firm was finishing installing the IBM mainframe computer, Sedena didn't have much to do, so between boredom and curiosity about this computer, she started reading the manual on the IBM 1410. One day, Sedena heard her boss and the guys installing the computer arguing over how to get the thing started. Sedena went over and told them what to do. Astonished, it started working and her boss asked how she knew what to do. She replied, "I read the manual". With that she became the company's Computer Operator. Sedena went on to learn COBOL programming at night school. After 37 years, her last task there was to review her programs from the 1960's for Y2K issues and retired in 2000.

While not working, Sedena and Merrill loved the outdoors and boating. The BARGE, the 1953 Anderson wood boat, was at the center of their outdoor adventures. Then, the oldest grandson convinced her to buy a tent at K-Mart and they went home and set it up in the backyard of their home on McDowell. That started many years of tent camping and boating at Seneca Lake and providing entertainment for their grandsons, Chris, Cary, Adam, Josh, Jared and Robby. The tent camping turned into a trailer, turned into an RV, and finally turned into a mobile home in Bradenton, Florida.

Merrill and Sedena started going to Bradenton in 1991. That was their winter home along with all of the other Snowbirds. After 25 years of making the January trek to Bradenton, it was in Bradenton in April of 2016, the love of her life, Merrill Gingerich, passed away. In memory of Merrill, Sedena would plant a royal palm tree in his honor next to their trailer and continue to go to Bradenton every January. She would always return to Canton for Mother's Day with family. Sedena returned from Brandenton for the last time in May 2025.

Sedena battled and beat lung cancer in 2000, she battled and beat colon cancer at age 93. After beating cancer twice, this third time cancer proved too much for the 95-year-old Sedena. After a brief stay in Hospice, her family rallied to her side and was there as she went to the Lord.

Sedena was proceeded in death by her parents (Wilbur and Helen Rutter), her husband of 68 years (Merrill), her eldest son (Les "Butch" Gingerich), and her sister (Ortie Henderson). She is survived by her sister Dorine Nail and brother Robert Rutter, daughter Karen Ryan and son David and Julie Gingerich. She is also survived by her 6 grandsons Chris and Sarah Zamilski, Cary and Roxanne Zamilski, Adam and Lisi Gingerich, Josh and Kaylie Gingerich, Jared Gingerich, Robert Ryan and Katie Cunningham. Finally, the biggest blessing, she's survived by her 5 great grandchildren, Quentin Gingerich, Connor Zamilski, Riley Zamilski, Mason Zamilski, and the youngest sweet loving Lilly Gingerich.

Sedena will be remembered on Tuesday August 5th, 2025 at Rossi Funeral Home, with a viewing at 2 pm, Service at 3 pm and Internment Ceremony to follow at Warstler Cemetery.