Obituary for Geraldine A. McManus
McManus, Geraldine A. (Gerry)-Monday, January 4, 2021. Beloved wife of the late John J. McManus, Jr. (Jack); mother of Geraldine Ann McManus (Paul Dembinski), John J McManus (Kathleen), Eileen Kennedy (Patrick): Mary McManus Mc Elroy (Jim, deceased), Kathleen McManus (Phil); grandmother of Elizabeth (Colin), Matthew, Deirdre, Jack, James, John, Joseph, Martina, Thomas, and John Patrick; daughter of the late John Francis and Agnes (Gillen) Seery, sister of the late Margaret (Peggy) and brother-in-law Harry Meyer; Aunt and Grand Aunt to the McManus, Smith, Fusco and Meyer families; welcomed member of the McElroy Family, and Cherished friend.
A Lifelong resident of Brooklyn, Gerry, together with her beloved husband, Jack, raised their 5 children in the borough, in the same home they made together all those years ago. This was the house in which Gerry still lived, proud to be independent and part of the Our Lady Help of Christians Community.
Gerry was a nurse by training, having graduated from St Catherine's Hospital School of Nursing. She enjoyed her work as a nurse, and would tell stories of how on occasion, family friends and relatives would ask if she could be the nurse assigned to them because of her calm, professional, and gentle manner. When children came along, she devoted herself to raising the five with which she and Dad were blessed. We certainly benefitted from Mom's nursing talents, as she always knew how to tackle and medical issue that arose and delivered countless instances of first aid as the pro she was.
Her greatest joy was in raising her family. and each in our own way, we kept her busy and on her toes. She attended too many CYO games and school performances to count. Through it all, Mom was a constant, always encouraging and exhorting us to work hard, reach for goals, to be kind, to act with sincerity, to trust in the Lord, and to approach everything with dignity and class. In all those things, Mom was a true model, for that is how she lived her life.
When our family grew with grandchildren, Gerry was thrilled. She would beam with pride and love when she would tell people that she had ten grandchildren. Following their goings on closely, she expected and cheerfully received reports on each one, taking her role as grandmother with the utmost seriousness. She made sure that her grandchildren knew that she encouraged and supported them as she had us. Momma, as she was fondly known, was a pivotal presence in the lives of her grandchildren, taking part in all family celebrations. Although not a fan of traveling, she travelled to Florida to participate at the sacraments and graduations of her grandchildren there and was amazed and grateful to celebrate the marriage of her eldest grandchild last year.
Throughout the years of raising five children and beyond, Gerry was the fabric of Our Lady Help of Christians. Together, she and Dad ran the Home school Association, were founding members of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, and volunteered at or supported a host a parish activities throughout the years. She was both humbled and delighted to serve as a Trustee of Our Lady Help of Christians Church. A member of the local book club and a stalwart participant in the Saturday, 5:00 pm Mass, Gerry's presence will be truly missed by her OLHC family and wider community.
To have a long, full life is an honor and a blessing. The psalmist says, "70 is the sum of our years; 80 if we are strong." (Psalm 90). Having achieved 90 years was a accomplishment that bemused and gratified Gerry. She trusted in God's providence and knew that she would be reunited with her husband Jack and all her family who had gone before her in the Lord's own time. We are thankful for our Mom, Gerry's, life, and the legacy she leaves us all of service, faith, and love.
A Lifelong resident of Brooklyn, Gerry, together with her beloved husband, Jack, raised their 5 children in the borough, in the same home they made together all those years ago. This was the house in which Gerry still lived, proud to be independent and part of the Our Lady Help of Christians Community.
Gerry was a nurse by training, having graduated from St Catherine's Hospital School of Nursing. She enjoyed her work as a nurse, and would tell stories of how on occasion, family friends and relatives would ask if she could be the nurse assigned to them because of her calm, professional, and gentle manner. When children came along, she devoted herself to raising the five with which she and Dad were blessed. We certainly benefitted from Mom's nursing talents, as she always knew how to tackle and medical issue that arose and delivered countless instances of first aid as the pro she was.
Her greatest joy was in raising her family. and each in our own way, we kept her busy and on her toes. She attended too many CYO games and school performances to count. Through it all, Mom was a constant, always encouraging and exhorting us to work hard, reach for goals, to be kind, to act with sincerity, to trust in the Lord, and to approach everything with dignity and class. In all those things, Mom was a true model, for that is how she lived her life.
When our family grew with grandchildren, Gerry was thrilled. She would beam with pride and love when she would tell people that she had ten grandchildren. Following their goings on closely, she expected and cheerfully received reports on each one, taking her role as grandmother with the utmost seriousness. She made sure that her grandchildren knew that she encouraged and supported them as she had us. Momma, as she was fondly known, was a pivotal presence in the lives of her grandchildren, taking part in all family celebrations. Although not a fan of traveling, she travelled to Florida to participate at the sacraments and graduations of her grandchildren there and was amazed and grateful to celebrate the marriage of her eldest grandchild last year.
Throughout the years of raising five children and beyond, Gerry was the fabric of Our Lady Help of Christians. Together, she and Dad ran the Home school Association, were founding members of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, and volunteered at or supported a host a parish activities throughout the years. She was both humbled and delighted to serve as a Trustee of Our Lady Help of Christians Church. A member of the local book club and a stalwart participant in the Saturday, 5:00 pm Mass, Gerry's presence will be truly missed by her OLHC family and wider community.
To have a long, full life is an honor and a blessing. The psalmist says, "70 is the sum of our years; 80 if we are strong." (Psalm 90). Having achieved 90 years was a accomplishment that bemused and gratified Gerry. She trusted in God's providence and knew that she would be reunited with her husband Jack and all her family who had gone before her in the Lord's own time. We are thankful for our Mom, Gerry's, life, and the legacy she leaves us all of service, faith, and love.