Geraldine F. Cohn

Geri Cohn of Livingston, NJ, passed away peacefully on October 10th, 2025 at the age of 91. Born in Newark to Herman & Bess Friedman, Geri was raised in Orange, NJ, and moved to Livingston, where she resided for almost 60 years. She was the first in her family to attend college and went on to earn her master’s degree in education at Upsala. Geri spent her career as an elementary school teacher in Livingston and took particular pleasure in decorating bulletin boards in her classroom.

Geri loved fashion and was always impeccably dressed. She chose outfits for her children as well, which almost always included the color red.

Geri enjoyed cooking and entertaining. Whenever anyone visited, her first words were “What can I get for you?” Her children, Rob and Debbie, recall their Mom often exclaiming, “I made your favorite.”

Knitting was another passion. Everyone in the family had more scarves than they ever needed. Her final labor of love was a needlepoint she made for her granddaughter, Gabrielle, in her later years.

Always devoted to family, Geri relished every moment with her grandchildren, Ethan and Gabrielle. They made light of her being a “professional grandmother,” knowing that they would be greeted with hugs, smiles, lots and lots of food (including red Jell-O molds), and “Grandma Jokes.” The family fondly remembers Thanksgiving and Passover as special times that brought everyone together.

Geri was an avid tennis player and will always be remembered heading out to play doubles with her friends in her tennis clothes. She was outgoing, social, and a familiar face at the Livingston community pool for over 50 years. Geri’s family was inspired when, in her 70s, she decided to become a Bat Mitzvah. A devoted animal lover, she always had a dog by her side and loved them like members of the family.

In 2021, Geri moved into an assisted living facility in Roseland, NJ, where she quickly made new friends and brought laughter to everyone around her. She was known for her sense of humor and fashion.

Geri was happily married to Richard Cohn for 65 years until his passing in 2021. Geri is survived by her son Rob, daughter Debbie, daughter-in-law Elise, son-in-law David, and cherished grandchildren, Ethan and Gabrielle.

A graveside service will be held at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, located at 189 Gill Lane, Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, 08830. The service is scheduled for October 15, 2025, starting at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the following charities:

Dementia Society of America

American Heart Association

Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, East Hanover, NJ

Click this link to view a slideshow of Geri’s life:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kbDBF38InYWe6aylCbwIlwptZ7Dr21Vk/view