Geraldine "Gerry" Amelia Irizarry

Gerry was born on May 19, 1939 in French Camp, California to the late Vincent and Margaret Bejarano. She grew up in Stockton, California among relatives from both parents. Some of her fondest memories include family-filled celebrations, adventures, and misadventures.

After graduating from high school and attending technical school for bookkeeping, Gerry started her work life in civil service at Sharpe Army Depot. During her time there, she met a young soldier, Heriberto “Izzy” Irizarry, with whom she’d eventually marry and build a family. Their marriage lasted 59 years until his passing. Together they raised three children and lived in France, Georgia, California, Okinawa, Germany, Oklahoma and Panama before moving to San Antonio for their final duty station. Gerry’s support helped Heriberto rise to Sergeant Major and achieve a decorated 30-year career.

Gerry returned to civil service after her children started high school and college. She served as the secretary for the chief of emergency medicine at Brooks Army Medical Center until her retirement in 1999.

Gerry maintained strong, loyal and lifelong friendships. In her final years, she continued to share laughs with childhood friends over the phone. Friendships she established with other Army wives over the years remained throughout the rest of her life as well.

Gerry had a lifelong passion for reading. As a child, she regularly visited her local library. She encouraged her children to read. She continued to read voraciously almost until her passing. While she read a variety of genres, she had a deep fascination with the royal family. None of her family could ever figure the source of this interest, but they consistently supported her with new books on the subject.

Gerry is preceded in death by her husband, Heriberto, her sister, Mary Regalado, and her oldest daughter, Theresa Marie Lopez de Castilla.

Gerry is survived by her children, Annette Margaret Cruz, and husband Arturo, and Joseph Arthur Irizarry, and wife Tracy, all of San Antonio; grandchildren Tony Irizarry, Catherine Lopez de Castilla, Victoria Lopez de Castilla, Sam Irizarry; step-grandchildren, Jose Cruz, and wife Rachel, and Daniel Cruz; brother-in-law Jose’ Noel Irizarry and wife Rose, of Austin, and Lauro Irizarry, of New Hampshire; and by a host of other relatives and special friends.

Visitation for Geraldine Amelia Irizarry will be at Sunset Memorial Park & Funeral Home on March 19, 2024 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Funeral services will be at Sunset Memorial Park on March 20, 2024 at 1 p.m. with Pastor Joan Ahrens officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.