Obituary of Geraldine Kearns Peacefully, at age 95, Geraldine Kearns passed into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ on February 14, 2019, and joined her husband, Andy in Heaven. Gerry was born March 31, 1923, in Braddock, Pennsylvania to Pauline and Stephan Pollak. She was also preceded in death by her sisters and their spouses, Helen (Thomas) Ratchford, Josephine (Ernest) Kovaly, Mildred “Pete” (Lester) Van Lewen, and Mary Louise (Steve) Skover; her brothers and their spouses, Stephen (Jean) Pollak, Frank (Marcie) Pollak, Albert (Rose) Pollak, Bernard (Jacqueline) Pollak, and Richard (Therese) Pollak.
Gerry was a registered nurse, graduating from Braddock General Hospital in 1944. She worked on the medical surgical floor and also did private duty work. She was well respected by patients, doctors and colleagues.
She married her high school sweetheart, Andy Kearns on September 14, 1948. Gerry and Andy raised their family of five children in Swissvale where she lived until 2015 then moved to Juniper Village Assisted Living in Forest Hills. In years past, Gerry was an active member of (St. Anselm) Word of God parish where she participated in the Christian Mothers Organization, helped in the church Library and helped to care for the altar and clean the church.
She volunteered for Swissvale Meals on Wheels and she was a member of the Swissvale AARP. Gerry’s true gift was helping others, whether professionally, in the neighborhood, at church or in local organizations. As years passed, watching sports on television was her pastime, especially the Pirates and Pitt basketball.
She was a strong, independent yet gentle spirit of a woman and a fine example to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her son, John (Joanie) Kearns; her daughter, Andrea (Bill) Brown; her son, Gregory (Christi) Kearns; her daughter, Paula (Neil, deceased) Maxwell; her daughter, Marilyn (Michael) LaMarca. She was a loving Nana to her eight grandchildren, Gabrielle (Rich) Proffitt, Natalie (Brian) Bolt, Andrew Leahy, Samantha and Meredith Kearns, Jacqueline and Nicole LaMarca and Hayley Maxwell.
Her great-grandchildren, Brielle, CJ and Naomi will forever be blessed for having known and loved her. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and their families across the country. The family of Gerry Kearns would like to extend our deepest gratitude for the loving care extended to our mom by the aides, med techs and staff at Juniper Village, and to the nurses and aides at Gateway Hospice.
Friends received Sunday, February 17, 2019, 2-8 p.m. at THOMAS L. NIED FUNERAL HOME, INC. , 7441 Washington St., Swissvale. Mass of Christian Burial in Word of God Roman Catholic Church, 7446 McClure St., Swissvale, PA 15218, on Monday, February 18, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a memorial donation be made to Juniper Village at Forest Hills, 107 Fall Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15221.
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