Geraldine Ann Condren Pilla, 85, passed away peacefully at home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on August 14, 2026, following an extended illness. Geri was deeply loved by her family and friends. She will be remembered for her kindness, warmth, and wonderful sense of humor, and will be forever missed by all who knew her.
Geri was born in the Bronx, New York, on April 7, 1941, and grew up in Queens. In 1979, she moved with her husband and children to Winston-Salem, where she devoted many years to raising their four children as a stay-at-home mother. In 1984, Geri and her husband founded Kleer Pak Company in Winston-Salem, which transitioned to Classic Packaging Company in 1991. They worked together to create a thriving family business where, until recently, she served as CEO.
Geri loved to cook and was especially known for her beautiful and delicious desserts. She was a gifted artist with a talent for watercolors and drawing. She enjoyed book club and socializing with neighbors and friends. A faithful member of Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church, she treasured her Catholic faith and church.
Above all, Geri fiercely loved her family. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and doting grandmother. She was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren, and her family was the center of her life.
Geri was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Bridget Condren, and Helen Donnelly, who helped raise her and held a special place in her life. She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Joseph Pilla; her four children, David Pilla, Christine Nocito (Ken), Kenneth Pilla (Barbie), all from Winston-Salem, and Jennifer Taylor (Todd) of Charlotte, North Carolina; and her six grandchildren, Helen, Joseph, Vincent, Caroline, Julianna and Bridget.
A funeral mass will be held for Geri on Friday, September 4, at 10 am at Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The mass will be followed by an inurnment ceremony and reception at Vogler Funeral & Cremations at Forsyth Memorial Park. Flowers may be sent to the funeral home for display at the reception, or donations may be made to one of Geri’s favorite charities, Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
