Georgia Haagenson

Georgia was preceded in death by Her Parents, Georgia Fallis and Francis Poniatowski; Stepmother, Margaret Poniatowski; Sister, Glenda Poniatowski; Husband, Frederick Haagenson; Son Eric Garlt; and Daughter-in-Law Katie Wright. Georgia is survived by Her Son, Robert (Jacqueline) Garlt; and Granddaughters Olivia Garlt and Brooklyn (Nick) Workman; Her first Husband Gregory (Carrie) Garlt, and through Greg, and Eric & Katie, Her new-found Family, LaToyia Garnett and The Chicago Gang! Angela (Nick), Clay (Ari), Brianne, Alycia (Kevin), Alexis, Bella, Lili, and so, so many others, too numerous to mention. And lastly by Her sister Fran Poniatowski and many other Friends and Neighbors.

Georgia was born in Chicago, Illinois in the Winter of 1949. She married in July 1969, with a baby growing in her belly after Greg came home from Vietnam, and an exciting and stimulating trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin over the July 4th Holiday. She had Robert in the Spring of 1970 and Eric almost five years later after the 1975 New Year. She was the first woman cable-splicer in the state of Illinois in the late 70s, and worked for Illinois Bell ripping man-hole covers off the street, and tunneling underground installing wire so Chicagoland could have HBO and ONTV in 1980.

She divorced in 1981, married Fredzo, and they moved to Whittier, California in April of 1982 - that’s right, swimming pools and movie stars. They had a home in the hills, a spectacular view of the ocean, a sports car, a family wagon, disposable income, attended the 1984 Olympics, and spent two amazing years finding out how the other half lives, until life intervened as it often does. From there it was Montclair, CA and the Inland Empire for a couple years - downsizing, belt-tightening - and then five years in Chino, home of the smell of fresh manure and a State Penitentiary, before finally settling in Louisville, KY in 1991.

Georgia loved her family more than anything. She also enjoyed and appreciated art, beauty, natural places and music, and her Boys learned all the oldies and classic rock of the 60s and 70s without even knowing it, while losing their stomachs, flying over railroad crossings, in huge tanks like the Ford LTD, and what was lovingly referred to as Mom’s Big Blue Bomber. She enjoyed taking drives in the country with Fred, and was always looking for her next adventure, whether it was good for her or not. She was fiercely independent, perhaps to a fault, and she even went to Vegas, ALONE, a couple years back - successfully! But she did not want to give up her freedom, or her home or her car, or her proud, indefatigable and wild, brooding spirit. And in this case, she went out on her own terms ~ as her beloved Ozzy Osborne once sang, “the world is a lonely place, you’re on your own.”

And she desperately, longingly, and regretfully loved Gregory, with a heavy heart, until the day she died. Her Boys forgave her, told her that, “to regret is to change everything,” and there was so much to be grateful for, but she could never forgive herself.

She enjoyed sports from a distance, but only because it brought her great joy knowing how much it meant to her Boys. She would send reminders about games, try to talk about the players and happenings, and always cheered louder than the rest, even though she often had to later ask what all the cheering about. She even volunteered as Athletic Director for Pee-Wee Football and Team Mom for Little League Baseball. And she hated the sounds of squeaky basketball shoes on TV, even MJ’s Air Jordans! But she watched every game, another example of her ferocious loyalty to her family and a depth of feeling that at times could be completely selfless. She was a pretty good bowler too!

She was an amazing cook and knew how to make REAL Italian Sauce, like in the huge pot, cooking on the stove for two days, oxtail inside, fresh ingredients, sugar and spices added to taste. All this knowledge passed down through her gentle, and angelic Stepmother Margaret, the genuine article, from Naples Italy. (You know, ‘cause Frank Nitty, Margaret's Uncle, Al Capone’s Black Right Hand, was at that wedding between Francis and Margaret, no joke.) But, yeah, lasagna, cookies, Easter Cakes that looked like bunnies and lambs, and even simple home-cooked dinners on a weeknight seemed like fine-dining and restaurant fare.

Finally, Georgia was fun, funny, smart and had a clever and quick wit and an even quicker and sometimes biting tongue. She could have done or been anything (see manhole covers at five foot two). She could be thoughtful, compassionate, and could light up any room, that is, if she had the strength to summon the joy from deep within her tender and hardened heart that she sought to protect at any cost.

And while she has found peace, and the free-range to roam with that unbridled and independent spirit, she will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

To celebrate and remember Georgia there will be a visitation at the Fairdale-McDaniel Funeral Home, in Louisville, KY from 10am-11am, Service at 11am and then dismiss for the drive to the Kentucky, Veterans Cemetery Central, in Radcliff, KY for Burial.

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