Gayle Ostrander

Gayle (Prizner) Ostrander was born July 26, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio to Edward and LaVerne Prizner (nee Prahl). As a young child growing up in Old Brooklyn, one of her favorite memories was visiting the farm of her grandfather, John F. Prahl, a local teamster who used a team of horses to excavate basements. A proud West-Sider, girl scout, clarinetist, and Cleveland Browns fan, she graduated in 1966 from James Ford Rhodes High School (the same alma mater as her mom) and Allegheny College in 1970 where she majored in History and later earned her master’s degree in Education.

Gayle began her career as an American history teacher at Madison High School. It was during this time she fell in love with William H. Ostrander, a fellow Madison High School teacher and Allegheny graduate, and they married on Gayle’s birthday in 1974. Together for nearly half a century, William passed away on January 2, 2023. William and Gayle had three children together: Nathan Hawkins (Leslie) Ostrander, Kate Prahl (Kel) McClanahan, and Cowles Strong (Emily) Ostrander, as well as three grandchildren: Noa, Saoirse, and Felton, who knew her by the name Oma. In addition to her three children and three grandchildren, Gayle is survived by her brother, Ronald Prizner, and his daughter, Jessica Constantine, as well as her sister-in-law Jeannie (Richard) Daggett, brother-in-law Robert (Debbie) Ostrander, and their extended families.

During her career as both a teacher and then later a children’s librarian with Madison Public Library, Gayle demonstrated a love of learning and championed the importance of reading and imagination. Throughout her life, she embodied a fierce independence but also unwavering loyalty to those she loved, especially her grandchildren on whom she doted. Whether you knew her as Gayle, Ma/Mommy, Oma or Mrs. O, she had profound impact on many people in Northeast Ohio and beyond, in her roles as a mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, wife, aunt, teacher, neighbor and friend. In memory of Gayle, always seek out a bargain, consider adopting a cat, never stop asking questions, and go for the gold.

In lieu of flowers, the family supports donations to a local humane society/animal shelter or a book drive/local library in remembrance of Gayle.

Lake Erie Cremation & Funeral Services, 1500 Harpersfield Rd, Geneva, OH 44041, assisted the family with arrangements. www.LakeErieCrematory.com