Geraldine Elizabeth Cargo

Geraldine Elizabeth (Palm) Cargo passed away on February 2, 2014. Showing her strength of faith in God’s love and her strength of will and character as she successfully fought pneumonia during December. Her indomitable spirit kicked in as her Rehab completed in January. She left us quickly and quietly. Geri married James Cargo in 1953 after her graduation from Marygrove College in 1951. During her Marygrove days, she had the lead on several lauded drama productions. She received an invitation to go to New York and shoot a commercial as well as a screen test for television. Instead, she and Jim settled into a 3 bedroom brick ranch in St Clair Shores and raised 3 children. She taught elementary school at North Shore and Kennedy schools. She was a beloved school teacher. Her kindness, patience and strength helped her to teach many struggling students to read; while her belief in discipline tempered with love helped form the building blocks for successful students’ education. Later on, Mrs. Cargo continued her education earning a Master in Education. Teaching full time, raising 3 children and a penchant for a clean and tidy home left little time for social activities. However, she assisted her family with their various coaching activities in the North Shore Baseball Association. One year, she had 4 different Little League baseball teams visiting her home. After she and her husband retired, they traveled frequently until Jim’s death in 1996. In her final years, Geri moved to New Baltimore, MI. She enjoyed her new life there thanks to wonderful friends like fellow school teacher Charlene Smith.

Mrs. Geraldine Elizabeth Palm Cargo ever organized and prepared, left a poem she treasured since 1966 to help ease the pain of her passing.

Shall I cry out in anger, O God,

Because Thy gifts are mine but for a while?

Shall I forget the blessing of health

The moment it gives way to illness and pain?

Shall I be ungrateful for the moments of laughter,

The seasons of joy, the days of gladness and festivity?

When tears cloud my eyes and darken the world

And my heart is heavy within me,

Shall I blot from the mind, the love

I have known and in which I have rejoiced?

What Thou givest O Lord

Thou takest not away

And bounties once granted

Shed their radiance evermore.

Within me your love and vision

Now woven deep into the texture

Live and will be mine, till Thou callest me hence,

To another realm, where these moments of eternity

Shall be joined together

In unbroken sequence

To form eternal life.

She is survived by her children, Christopher and Christine (Nossal) of Glendora, CA; Kathleen and John (Zezula) of Grapevine, TX and Paul and Debby (Gosik) of Roseville, MI. Grandchildren Kevin Cargo of Glendora, CA, Sean Cargo of Glendora, CA and Dennis Gosik of Roseville, MI. Her only surviving beloved Aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth McCormick of Garden City, MI. We note Mrs. Cargo’s cousin, Mrs. Bernadette Lewis’ only known surviving son, Kevin Lewis of West Bloomfield. Mrs. Cargo had over 50 cousins in Michigan. Acquired through mutual admiration and love are her non-related but considered daughters: Marilu Pate, Denise Lusk, Barbara Olsen, Ana Quan and Brent Hesse. Also, her non-related beloved considered grandchildren: Joshua Pate, Laurence Wu, Leslie Wu, Bryce Kenny, and Blake Kenny. Preceding Geri in death: husband James; parents Paul and Mary Ellen (O’Boyle) Palm, and brother, Paul Palm of Detroit, MI.

Memorial visitation at Kaul Funeral Home 28433 Jefferson, St Clair Shores, Friday, 2/7 from 2pm-9pm. Scripture at 7pm. The mass will be at Holy Innocents - St. Barnabas Campus on Saturday, February 8th, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers: Donations may be sent to Marist Sisters Retirement Fund, 16057 Hauss, Eastpointe, MI 48021.