Geraldine Theresa McFarland

Former Kenmore, NY, resident Geraldine Theresa (Walsh) McFarland, beloved wife of late New York State Senator James T. McFarland, and long-time substitute teacher in the Kenmore-Tonawanda NY School District, died January 22, 2026, in McKinney, TX, after a brief illness. She was 95.

Born in June 1930 in the Bronx, New York, Geraldine (“Jeri”) spent much of her childhood in Freeport, Long Island. She was the eldest child of John and Kathryn (O’Keefe) Walsh and was raised alongside her three beloved siblings, Patricia Peters, Dr. John E. Walsh, and William Walsh, all of whom predeceased her.

A lifelong learner and educator, Jeri believed deeply in the power of education. She graduated from State University College of Education at Oneonta, NY, in 1952, with a degree in teaching, and earned a master’s degree from Hofstra University. After teaching elementary school in Massapequa, Long Island, she worked for Encyclopedia Britannica, traveling across the country to introduce the encyclopedia into school systems, an experience that perfectly matched her passion for sharing knowledge.

While raising her family, Jeri remained involved in her community, serving as a religious instruction teacher and Girl Scout leader. She was active in local politics and enjoyed debating the issues of the day. She also worked as a Realtor with Howard Potter Realty and Coldwell Banker before returning to education, as a substitute teacher in the Ken-Ton School District, a role she enjoyed well into her seventies.

Jeri met her future husband, Jim, on a blind date at the home of mutual friends on Grand Island, NY. They were married in August 1958 in Freeport, NY, and honeymooned in Cape Cod. They made their home in Kenmore, NY, where they raised their four children.

Whether playing golf, skiing, or taking Sunday drives after church, Jeri had a gift for turning everyday moments into lessons, expanding her children’s understanding of the world, its history, and even their vocabulary. She was keenly observant, culturally curious, and endlessly engaged with her surroundings.

In later years, Jeri moved to McKinney, TX, to be closer to her daughter Susan. She thrived living at Pioneer Ridge where she made good friends and was an active member of the community. She grew to love her adopted Texas home, delighting in the pink crape myrtle blossoms each spring and the warm welcome she found at her church. She celebrated every birthday with a banana split and, in 2025, joyfully marked her 95th birthday surrounded by her immediate family, savoring Texas barbecue, and embracing all six of her grandchildren.

Jeri is survived by her son, James T. McFarland Jr. (Brenda Laubach), and her three daughters, Kathy (Roger Munford), Susan, and Lynne (Douglas McKinnon); as well as six grandchildren: James T. III and Max McFarland of Manhattan; Ian and William McKinnon of Denver; Emily McKinnon of Chicago; and Madeleine Munford of London, England.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. (CST) on February 4, 2026, at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, in McKinney, TX. The Mass will be livestreamed at this link: https://stgabriel.org/funerals-online.

A memorial celebration of her life will be held later this year in Buffalo. She will be buried beside her beloved husband at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore, NY.

Jeri wished it known by all her friends and family that she had a wonderful life, and that she loved them all very much.