Geraldine F. Clark Obituary (1926 - 2014)

Geraldine “Gerry” Clark, 88 of Pecatonica, IL died at 10:45 pm Thursday September 11, 2014 in Neighbors Rehabilitation in Byron, IL. Born August 29, 1926 in Rock City, IL the daughter of Henry and Mary Miller. Moved to Pecatonica the following year when the family home was destroyed in Rock City’s big fire of 1927. Lived in Pecatonica through her school years and was part of the graduating class of 1944, after which she worked as a secretary in Rockford. She married Richard “Chub” Clark in 1946 in St. Mary Catholic Church in Pecatonica, where the family resided until 1982. During the rearing of their children, Gerry worked part time always using her secretarial skills and served as village clerk, township auditor and clerk. She and Richard moved to Sarasota, Florida in 1982, resided there for 15 years and returned to Pecatonica in 1997 to be near their family. While in Florida she added to her many varied crafts, that being the art of using long Florida pine needles to create intricate baskets and pieces of all sorts and demonstrated the art at the Florida State and County fairs, as well as visiting schools to illustrate to the children just how and why the Florida pine needles were used by the Indians for hundreds of years in the past. Gerry was also instrumental in developing the Highlands County Quilt Guild for which she was a charter member and secretary for several years. Gerry also spent several years enjoying her love of music by joining the choir and performing as a soloist at Queen of Martyrs Church in Sarasota, FL. She also found great joy visiting the residents of Medina Nursing Home in Durand, IL reading, chatting and singing all the old songs with others. Gerry’s family will remember her as a beautiful, strong and loving wife, mother and grandmother who was always there for them. So intelligent and inquisitive, she was an inspiration to many. All of our lives she graced us with her amazing singing voice, her favorite ukulele always close by. In so many ways she taught us how to live, and that wisdom will continue through the generations. Survivors include daughter Kathi (Paul) Smith of Springfield, IL ; son Colin (Vicky) Clark of Loves Park, IL; daughters Teresa (Rick) Kendell of Phoenix, AZ, Kris (David) Stephens of Winnebago, IL; grandchildren Andrew Clark, Melissa Schweitzer, Jeremy and Heather Stephens, Taylor (Fiancè Henry) Westfall, Paige (Richard) Moreno, and Justin Westfall; great grandchildren Sadie Clark, Eloise Clark, Bradley Schweitzer, Gabriel and Xavier AbouArraj, Mason and Evelyn Guthrie, Richard Moreno Jr., Predeceased by parents, husband, grandson Jason Wiley, sister Lucille Daughenbaugh, brother Kenneth Miller. A special thank you to the Neighbors Rehabilitation staff and the Visiting Nurses Hospice for giving Mom special care during her final days. Prayers will be held at McCorkle Funeral Home – Countryman Chapel 529 Washington St Pecatnoica, IL at 10:00 am Wednesday September 17, 2014 followed by a Funeral Mass of the Christian Burial at 10:30 am in St. Mary Catholic Church 126 West 5 th Street Pecatonica with Fr. Beauvias officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday with a scripture service to be held at 6:45pm. Memorials may be given to the Winnebago Animal Clinic 2053 N Winnebago Rd, Winnebago, IL 61088 .