Gerd DeSalvio, a.k.a. Geri or Miss Geri Gerd (Geri) DeSalvio, 84, of Aiken, SC, passed away Thursday, September 20, 2018, at Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh, NC. She was born in Sweden to the late Einar Eriksson and Elizabeth Johansson Eriksson on April 4, 1934. As a child Geri road her bike or cross-country skied to school each day.
As a teen, she learned to handle a sailboat enjoying her summers along Sweden’s coast. At the age of 22 and after a long distance courtship/engagement to George, she immigrated to America to start a new life, far away from all her family. The couple settled in NJ where they adopted their children, Kristina and Lars.
After many years they moved to Hilton Head, SC, and eventually settling down in Aiken, SC. Over the years, Geri & George took many trips abroad to various countries to visit family, to sightsee, and to snow ski in Norway and Italy. They also traveled throughout the entire United States and Canada to visit family and friends, to camp, to ski, to play tennis or golf, to take a long distance bike tour or attend a week-long cooking class.
Geri and George entertained many visits from family and friends sharing Geri’s traditional customs and foods. Though their 58-year marriage was full of cultural challenges and adjustments, it was mostly full of adventure with lots of love and laughter. When George died in 2014, Geri faced numerous health challenges but was supported by family and friends.
She truly valued all their efforts and always tried to pay back their kindness in one way or another. She had a way of meeting and keeping connections with people that were very special and will be missed by all. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 6th, 2018 at 3:00 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Pastor Jeff Erbskorn officiating.
The family will receive friends at her home in Woodside Plantation following the service. Mrs. DeSalvio is survived by her daughter, Kristina Kegley of Raleigh, NC; son, Lars DeSalvio & wife, Joanne of Frederick, MD; grandchildren, Daniel Kegley & wife, Cari; Nicholas DeSalvio and Erika DeSalvio; Great-grandchild, Margo Kegley; her sister, Maud Jinfors & husband Bengt of Sweden; cousin, Inger Evans & husband Michael of the United Kingdom; and a host of extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Robert DeSalvio; son-in-law, Henry Martin Kegley Jr.; and her brother, Bengt Eriksson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 961 Trail Ridge Road, Aiken, SC 29803. A service of Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home, 1051 Durham Road, Wake Forest, NC. (919)556-7400 www.
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