Geraldine J. Ward

Geraldine Jane Ward was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 27, 1942. She died Tuesday, May 26th surrounded by her daughter, granddaughter, her pets, and the love of the family that couldn’t be there with her.

She always thought her most important contribution to the world was creating the term “Scooter” for the “14-inch wraparound skirt” designed by Villager.  Tasked with finding a better name for their design, she came back with the term “Scooter” that is still being used today.  She was so proud of this that it was required to be included in her obituary, but it was by no means her most important gift.

Gerrie went through her life being a great supporter, celebrator, caregiver, cheerleader, and friend wherever she landed. Before she was a mom, neighborhood kids in Glen Ellyn would flock to her for advice and mom-adjacent kindness.  In that same neighborhood, she threw amazing parties, cooked delicious dishes, and was a wonderful hostess that was great with a theme. Her favorite recipes are treasured by family and friends.

Her kids, Keith and Heidi, became swimmers so she became a swim mom, volunteering at every opportunity and doing all she could for their teams, including driving the kids back-and-forth between South Carolina and Illinois every summer so they could participate in enough meets to be eligible for finals for both state’s teams.

After helping her ex-husband get sober with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous and moving her kids to South Carolina, she volunteered with AA and helped organize an Alateen group there. She thought the Al-Anon group was a little whiny for her taste and didn’t find her place there, but was a friend of a friend of Bill for many years.

In Greenville, she was an Art teacher in underprivileged schools. She was always worried about her students and was known to bring multiple high school students home for the weekend to make sure they were well fed and to keep them out of trouble. When trouble still found some of them, after several visits to them in prison, she volunteered there and started an AA program and a choir to give them more positive outlets and a chance for change upon their release.

She returned to school to get her Masters in Counseling in order to help more kids. She continued to work in underprivileged schools, where she didn’t just counsel, but helped teach reading groups, provided countless children with glasses, and supported her young students with her kindness, empathy, and advocacy that continued well after her workday ended.

When she retired, she became a Grandma with as much passion as she had given her work.  Her new job as “Chiddie” was her favorite position. Summer days with Bryce and Abby at Camp Chiddie were spent crafting, cooking, swimming, gardening, watching soap operas in bed, stamping with the lunch ladies, having dessert with every meal, prepping delicious dinners, and raising thousands of butterflies. When a school holiday rolled around, every single teacher and staff member that had any affiliation with Bryce or Abby received a Chiddie made craft. Her crafty kindness is scattered in houses and offices far and wide as treasured memories.

She will be remembered by Keith for their nightly talks. For years and years, they chatted with each other sharing their days, the recipes they were trying, gardening tips, beloved pet stories, and love. She will be remembered by Heidi for their sing-alongs, summer road trips, their regular reminder that “somebody said that it couldn’t be done…,”and “love ya-gotcha!” post-its that are still hidden in random places.  Abby will always remember their pool adventures, rides to gymnastics practice that always included a stop for a snack, walk-around bread, and the butterflies they raised each summer.  Bryce won’t ever forget singing Laurie Berkner together, Friday donuts, learning computer Solitaire because his Chid was a master, and making and selling their coveted Beaner’s Pickles.

Gerrie was artistic, an amazing cook, funny as hell, a little naughty, gave great tickles, supported the passions of her kids and grandchildren tirelessly, had a great laugh, and loved music, gardening, her beloved pets, the Hallmark Channel, and naps.

Fortunately for us, she lived long enough to see Bryce get married to Caitlin, become a nuclear engineer in the Navy, and become a father, making her a Great Grand Chiddie. She also was able to celebrate Abby graduating high school with honors to continue the swimming legacy at Columbia College. 

Dementia stole so many things from her, but she was funny to the bitter end, smirking at her own humor days before she died. As much as we will miss her, we will always remember her with a smile, and sometimes even a smirk. 

The family will be celebrating Gerrie’s life privately when Bryce returns from deployment. We thank you for your kindness and prayers.

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