Christine A. Schrier
Christine A. Schrier nee Zacek, of Elmhurst. Beloved wife of Howard for 49 years; loving mother of Jeff (Rachel) and Brad (Erika); grandmother of James, Alex, Elias and John; dear daughter of the late James and Anna Zacek; sister of Lolita Zacek. Services and Interment private. Arrangements provided by Ahlgrim Funeral Home. For more information, call 630-834-3515 or visit ahlgrim.com.
Geraldine Guerino
Geraldine (Gerri) Marie Guerino was born December 11, 1945, to parents Fred and Alice Knudsen and passed away on December 6, 2016, just five days short of her 71st birthday.
World War II had ended just a couple of months before and, like many couples, her parents were living with relatives, waiting for new housing to be built. Imagine their surprise to discover they were expecting twins!
Gerri and Terri were born at Little Company of Mary Hospital, where their mother had recently completed training as a nurse. Their father had to take three buses to get there from their home on 12th Street in Broadview.
The twins moved with their parents to 13th Street a couple of years later, where the girls attended St. Eulalia School. In 1956, younger sister Peggi arrived and a year later, the family moved into a larger house on 8th Avenue in Maywood.
Gerri and Terri graduated from Proviso East High School, where both parents had also graduated. In 1963, while attending Chicago Teachers College, they became big sisters to a brother, Tom. It was also at college that Gerri met her husband Paul.
Gerri worked in the Admissions Office, Terri worked for one of the Deans, and Paul worked in the Earth Sciences Labs. Gerri graduated with a degree in education with a minor in math in just two years and eight months. She also studied Mandarin and her first teaching position was at St. Theresa Mission School in Chicago’s Chinatown.
In 1966, Gerri and Paul married and, in 1967, both took teaching positions at the Taipei American School, a Department of Defense School, in Shih Lin, outside of Taipei in Free China.
A true dog lover, Gerri saw her first Spitz in Tokyo in 1967 and eventually, owned three of her own. The first was purchased from a puppy vendor out of a basket on a bike in Shih Lin. The other two were obtained here in the United States. In 1969, they returned to the U.S. where they built the home they lived in until her death. Gerri worked for former District 46 in Elmhurst until she was forced to resign due to her pregnancy. At that time, pregnant women were considered a “distraction” and “disturbing to children.” She tried West Leyden and then Immaculate Conception High School before going to College of DuPage, where she spent the rest of her career teaching math.
Paul was an avid gardener and Gerri loved roses. Eventually, they had more than 1600 rose bushes with 650 named varieties in their garden. They were on several local garden walks as well as some hosted by the American Rose Society National Convention. The Guerinos were interviewed and featured on a Rebecca’s Garden television program. At the time of her death, the garden had 385 bushes. Gerri is remembered by her rose friends for two hybrid bushes named in her honor — “Gerri G.” and “Elmhurst.”
Gerri is survived by her husband Paul of 50 years; by a son Gregory (Jen Bondelli), a daughter Julie (Edward) Dunham and their sons, Trevor Riley and Noah Joseph. She is also survived by her twin sister Terri (Stan) Calwell, her sister Peggi (Dan) Ellis, a sister-in-law Mary Ellen Guerino, and cousins Nancy, Karen and Susan, who were like sisters to her. Numerous nieces, nephews, a great niece and a great nephew also survive her. A Mass of Christian Burial was held. Donations would be appreciated to the Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Cancer Center, 3160 So. 1st Ave., Maywood, 60153. Information provided by family members.
Joseph Leya Watson
Joseph Leya Watson, of Elmhurst, passed away recently at the age of 66. Beloved husband of the late Mary nee Fricke; loving father of James Hossain Watson and Mariam Watson Mokhtarzada; grandfather of Amina, Ibrahim and Muhammad; dear son of the late Jack and Catherine (nee Rook) Watson; brother of John Watson, James Watson and Jeree Ellison. Memorial Mass was held Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 at Visitation Church, 779 S. York Rd. Interment All Saints Cemetery. Arrangements provided by Ahlgrim Funeral Home. For more information, call 630-834-3515 or visit ahlgrim.com
