Gayla B. Gomena's Obituary
Gayla B. Gomena
October 21, 1930 – December 26, 2024
Gayla (Bill) Gomena, 94, passed peacefully in hospice care at her home at Mary’s Woods, Lake Oswego, Oregon, on Thursday, December 26, 2024. She was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, to Hoxsie B. Bill and Zuma (MacBride) Bill, on October 21, 1930, moments before the birth of her twin brother, Gary.
Family, friends, music and art were big parts of Gayla’s life. She took pride in her piano playing, and was in demand in her youth as an accompanist in school productions and as a church organist. She loved to sing, and enjoyed singing in the Mary’s Woods chorus.
Trained as a dental hygienist, Gayla had an abiding passion for art. She returned to school in mid-life, earning an art degree from Marylhurst University. She spent many fulfilling years working with pastels and other media.
Gayla spent the years in between as a busy spouse and mother. She married John E. Gomena, also of Westerly, R.I., and the young family moved across the country in ever-westward hops, from Rhode Island to Caribou, Maine; Rochester, New York; Nampa, Idaho; Walla Walla, Washington, and finally to Lake Oswego, Oregon. She was almost always home at the end of her three children’s school days, ready to shuttle them to after-school activities. When not organizing weekend family outings and trips, she often participated with John in hosting corporate social gatherings in the family home. Her cooking was as accomplished as her art and music, and all three sometimes came together at those events.
Gayla and John transferred to California toward the end of his career, and in retirement returned to Oregon to live at Tierra Del Mar, near Pacific City on the Oregon coast. Their home there was a touchstone for friends and family, who often visited on weekends and holidays.
Gayla is survived by son Peter Gomena, daughter-in-law Donna (Twehus) Gomena, daughter Julie Gomena (Robert Bonnie), and grandson Samuel Gomena, all of whom will treasure their memories of her. She also is survived by two nieces and a nephew. Her husband, John E. Gomena, son Andrew Gomena, grandson Benjamin Gomena, and brother Gary Bill preceded her in passing.
Mortuary services are provided by Holman-Hankins-Bowker & Waud, www.waudsfuneralservice.com
Please check their website for updates. Inurnment will be at Mountain View Cemetery in Oregon City. A private memorial is pending.
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