Geraldine L. VonDaacke

away on Thursday, January 28, 2021. She was born on October 29, 1928 to Carrie (Puffe) and

Earl Hotchkiss in Milldale, CT.

Her mother took her to ballet, tap and jazz dance lessons in Meriden at a very early age. She

attended Lewis High School in Southington where she studied business and was an

enthusiastic Cheerleader. She made frequent trips to Misquamicut and the Connecticut

beaches and it was on one of these trips she met James “Big Jim” Von Daacke. Jim was

smitten as soon as he saw her and threw pebbles at her to get her attention. They married on a

snowy day in February 1951.

Geraldine began working in the insurance world in Hartford but after she had her first child she

began working for a local CPA firm in Southington, where she was employed for 40 years. Just

as her eldest child was preparing for college, Jerry thought she was getting out of shape and

began exercising in earnest; her doctor surprised her (and Big Jim!) with the news that she was

5 months pregnant with their 4th child at 41 years old.

Jerry and Jim bought their dream home in Southington on Oakland Road in 1978 and they loved

making it their own by filling it with antiques that they collected at flea markets, tag sales and

antique shops.

In retirement Jerry became a world traveler frequenting Spain, Israel, Italy, Bermuda and

cruising the world over with her best friends Marge Cushing and Barbara McNerney, developing

her impeccable taste in clothes and furthering her love of art, music and poetry. Jerry was a

vocal supporter of the peace and anti-war movement, joining protests in Washington and at the

Groton Sub Base.

Geraldine was predeceased by her husband Jim in 1992 and her daughter Jaqueline Bourn in

2005, her brother Earl (Bub) Hotchkiss and her sister Gertrude Mongrain. She is survived by

her daughters Laurice and husband Philip Klemarczyk of Canton, Rachel Von Daacke of

Southington and Eric Von Daacke of East Haven and her 6 grandchildren Hillary, Tyler, Erica,

Alexander, Matthew, and James and 4 great grandchildren.

Geraldine will be remembered by all for her sharp wit, strong personality, her love for the beach,

cheering for the UCONN basketball teams, dancing to New York New York by Frank Sinatra and

relishing a well-made dry martini.

There will be no services held due to the current COVID pandemic. We will celebrate

Geraldine’s life with a tree planting memorial gathering in the spring with her beloved family and

friends. If you would like to remember Geraldine, memorial donations can be made to her

favorite charity: Doctors Without Borders, PO Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD. 21741-5030. The DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Southington has been entrusted with the arrangements. For online condolences please visit, www.dellavecchiasouthington.com