Charlotte Ann Gibbons

Charlotte Gibbons, our beautiful, loving, faith-filled mom, joined her heavenly Father on January 30, 2024, at the age of 89 years. She was a remarkable wife, mom, daughter, sister, grandma, aunt, cousin and friend who lived her life in a way that taught all of us what truly mattered. As kids, we knew we were blessed with the most selfless parents and greatest role models. Mom would say she was blessed with the most wonderful life she could have ever imagined. All who knew her could sense her extraordinary faith, humility, and love for others.

On November 13, 1934, Charlotte Ann Young was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She moved a fair amount when she was young, eventually ending up in Sherburn, Minnesota, her sophomore year of high school. There she met and fell in love with George Gibbons. After high school, George proposed before he left for service in Korea. Upon returning home, they were married. In her selflessness, our mom always took care of others and never required acknowledgement. When George suddenly lost his parents, Mom was his loving anchor and support. In her late teens and early twenties, she helped her parents care for her sister through a long battle with polio and an early death from an aneurism. She became a second mom to her young niece who continued to be a part of mom’s life up to the very end. Later in life, when Dad’s sister-in-law passed away in her early fifties, Mom was there to help her brother-in-law and young niece navigate life without their wife and mother.

Mom and Dad moved to Jackson, Minnesota, shortly after they were married. Their marriage was a love affair that lasted 69 years. Their selflessness and commitment to each other was an inspiration to all. Mom and Dad worked as a team, making countless sacrifices for each other and our family. They instilled in us a strong work ethic and personal accountability. Mom not only took care of us kids, she also provided daycare for other kids in our community. As we grew older, Mom took a different direction with her gifts. She became an entrepreneur by starting her own home decorating business. Her business blossomed, and along with her partner, they had a long waiting list of eager clients. And all of us kids were lucky enough to have our mom do pro bono work and to this day we still talk about the mark she left in our lives included the mark she left in our homes.

Our mom was the wind beneath all of our wings. She was selfless in her care for us and Dad. She taught us to love God and see others as equals. She also told us we could accomplish anything in life which helped us dream big and take risks. At home, Mom managed the family and finances, sewed our clothes, created homemade Halloween costumes and made elaborate birthday cakes. She was our “go to” when things went wrong. Instead of “fixing things,” she listened deeply, and said just the right words to ease our pain. She also challenged us to do better. Her encouragement and support for us all was unmatched.  

Throughout her busy life, Mom also had many friends. She had daily coffee with the gals, was part of several bridge clubs and Tuesday’s golf league. Her greatest pleasures, however, were our family road trips and playing golf with Dad. After retiring, Mom and Dad moved to Crosslake, Minnesota, and continued to travel and play golf. They also loved having the entire family “up north.”  Mom would have the fridge loaded, meals prepped, desserts made and sheets cleaned. We’d tell her it was like a resort experience and she’d just say, “Well, that’s what we want to do for you kids.” 

Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2015 and was lovingly cared for at her home until it became too difficult to keep her safe. In March of 2022, we found a loving memory care home just down the road where we could visit every day. The love and care Mom received from the Golden Horizon’s staff and Hospice team allowed her to blossom again. These caregiving people, along with the residents, became family to all of us.  During her final moments, we could not have scripted a more fitting end for mom’s life story. Just like mom, her passing was beautiful, loving, and holy.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Veronica Young, sister Joan, and granddaughter Adelle Jensen. She is survived by her loving husband George, children Todd (Cyndi), Cinda (David Jensen), and Kay Gibbons, six grandchildren (Samuel, Jennifer, Logan, Audrey, William, and Christopher), and nine great grandchildren (Jessica, Jazmin, Michael, Luca, Massimo, Chloe, Nora, Eva and Drea).

A mass at Immaculate Heart in Crosslake, Minnesota will be held Saturday, June 15^th at 11 a.m. with Visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited to a Celebration of Life at Charlotte’s home from 1-3 p.m. In lieu of memorials and flowers, we ask you to commit a random act of kindness in honor of Charlotte. Know that in doing so, Charlotte will be smiling upon you. Arrangements have been entrusted with Brenny Family Funeral Chapel of Crosslake.