Gaye Marie (Massi) Trcka

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Gaye Marie (Massi) Trcka, 63, of Hurley, Wisconsin, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at the University of Minnesota Fairview in Minneapolis, after a brief battle with cancer.

Gaye was born on April 10, 1960, in Wakefield, Michigan. She was the oldest of four girls born to Richard Massi and Nancy (Jacobson) Massi. She graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood, Michigan, in 1978. On Aug. 4, 1979, she married Bill Trcka, and together they raised two children, Breanne and Corey. Gaye was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley.

Over the years, she worked several jobs until finding her niche in retail at Maurices in the 1980s, eventually working her way up to store manager. She was a fixture at the store for numerous years where she made many friends. She loved chatting with her customers and helping them find the latest and greatest styles. She grew a love for fashion and had a walk-in closet to prove it. After she left Maurices, her next job and most prized accomplishment was being a grandma.

Starting in her early 30s and until her death, Gaye battled many serious medical conditions. In 1995, she survived open heart surgery accompanied by a double lung transplant. In 2008, she was gifted a kidney, from her very special cousin and friend, Darla Gratton. There were many other illnesses she endured up until her cancer diagnosis in May 2023, but she didn't let them define her. With each battle, she was up for the fight of her life, and she took these challenges head-on. The love she had for her children and later her grandchildren, gave her an immeasurable strength to fight and see them through their life events. She was bound and determined to be present for graduations, weddings, and the birth of grandbabies. Through the years of hundreds of doctor's appointments, medical exams, lab draws, and medication side effects, she never complained. She handled her diagnoses with strength, courage and grace. She may have been tiny and meek, but she was a warrior - forever our hero.

In 2010, Gaye became a grandma, undeniably her favorite profession. She became known as "Mimi" to six of her favorite people in the world. There wasn't a kid's concert, sporting event or dance recital Mimi would miss. She was so proud of each and every one of her grandchildren. She took thousands of pictures of them and saved every news article they were ever in. She cherished every moment she spent with them.

When Gaye wasn't busy being a grandma, on Sundays you would find her cheering on the Minnesota Vikings. She and her sisters, along with their dad, shared a special bond for their love of purple and gold.

Gaye had a knack for shopping, whether it was online or in a mall, she could spend hours finding the perfect gift for a friend or family member. She gave the best, most meaningful gifts and especially loved to personalize them.

The "gift of gab," was another wonderful quality of Gaye. She would spend hours in the grocery store, at a family gathering, or on the phone chatting about anything and everything. She had a story to tell for just about every topic. Her children and friends were often left waiting for her by the door as she said her long-winded goodbyes.

Gaye loved her time in the kitchen. She was known for many dishes but mainly for her cheese ravioli and Christmas cookies. She had a love for country music and spent many years attending Country USA with her friends and sisters. She also had a love for emojis and nearly every text she sent included them.

Gaye is survived by her husband, Bill Trcka; a daughter, Breanne (Steve) Lombardo and their children, Laney, Finnley and Jordy; a son, Corey (Cacey) Trcka and their children, Hadley, Kennedy and Camden; her mother, Nancy Massi; her stepgrandmother, Eva Massi; and three sisters, Lori (Mark) Lopez, Paula Anderson and Renee (Jimmy) Baross.

Gaye is further survived by her brothers-in-law, Francis (Debra) Trcka, Gerard (Mary) Trcka and James (Julie) Trcka; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends. She also leaves behind a special friend, Ron Maki; and her beloved cat, Virgil.

She was preceded in death by her father, Richard "Dick" Massi; her maternal grandparents, Gus and Jennie Jacobson; her paternal grandparents, Virgil and Elsie Massi; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank and Geri Trcka.

Mom - Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 29, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 9:30 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 404 Iron St., in Hurley, with the Rev. Hrudaya Raju Sunkara, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Hurley.

Luncheon to follow at the Kimball Community Center immediately upon return from the cemetery.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family with arrangements. To send online condolences or to share a memory, please go to lakesidememorialchapel.com.