Ruth Mary Geary

Ruth Geary, of Orlando Florida, formally of Lafayette, IN and seasonal resident of Old Lyme, Connecticut, died peacefully on November 28, 2013. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Stephen Geary. Survived by her three daughters and eight grandchildren, Mrs. Geary will be dearly missed. Born January 3, 1944 to Dr. Richard and Ruth Mary Doyle, Mrs. Geary was raised in Salem, MA. Mrs. Geary received her undergraduate teaching degree in Boston and her Master’s degree in Biology from the University of New Hampshire. Mrs. Geary met her husband at UNH and they spent their early years together in Syracuse, NY where Mrs. Geary was a high school Biology teacher. After the birth of her three children, Mrs. Geary was a homemaker. She was an active volunteer in both her children’s educational and extracurricular activities. Mrs. Geary spent several terms on the Board of Directors for the West Lafayette Swim Club. In her later years, Mrs. Geary was also a part time employee of Purdue University. Mrs. Geary and her late husband retired to Brandon, FL where they loved living close to the water and their daughter and grandchildren. Mrs. Geary had a love of knitting, sailing, reading, and Scrabble.

Mrs. Geary was a devoted mother and “Nana”. She is survived by three daughters and their families. Maura Ruth Cochran, and her husband Alex of Rocklin, CA; Margaret “Margy”, Geary Grant, and her husband Matthew of Orlando, FL; and Elizabeth Doyle Lardio and her husband Anthony, “Tony”, of Naperville, IL. “Nana” was adored by her eight surviving grandchildren: Catherine and Abigail Cochran of Rocklin, CA; Michael, Grace, and Sean Grant of Orlando FL; and Kenneth, Alex, and Shannon Lardio of Naperville, IL. In addition, she is also survived by two sisters and three brothers. Mrs. Carol Kirshenbaum and her late husband Dr. Les Kirshenbaum, of Marina Del Ray, CA; Mrs. Claire Hayes and her late husband Dr. Steven Hayes, of Salem, MA; Mr. Richard Doyle, of St. Petersburg, FL, and his wife Char; Robert Doyle of Marblehead, MA, and his wife Janet; and David Doyle, of Marblehead, MA, and his wife Sylvia. Additionally, Mrs. Geary is survived by many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Geary also enjoyed the loving family of her late husband, the Geary family, and took great joy in watching her nieces and nephews grow up and have families of their own.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated December 30, 2013 at Holy Family Catholic Church, at 5125 S. Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL at 11:00 am. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. An additional memorial Mass and celebration of life will be held in the Spring in Old Lyme, CT.

Arrangements are under the care of WOODLAWN MEMORIAL PARK & FUNERAL HOME, www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com.