Geraldine "Geri" Mary Patricia Hines

Geraldine "Geri" Mary Patricia McKenna Hines transcended this Earthly realm on Saturday, March 21, 2026 after a mighty battle with cancer. She fought harder, and hung on longer than anyone thought possible, proving what we knew all along: She really did have the very, very best heart.

Geri was born on October 14, 1949 in Cork, Ireland, the third of four daughters born to Raymond and Mary McKenna. In her early years she excelled athletically and academically, winning countless medals for swimming and ultimately earning an Honors Degree in Social Work from Cork College.

She was insatiably curious and always up for an adventure, so when a tall, handsome American wandered into a pub one day and pulled up the chair beside her, it was on. After eight inseparable months, she and the love of her life, Kenneth Donald Hines, were married on March 5, 1979 and their forty-seven year adventure began.

Together they lived in two countries, traveled to countless others, and had three daughters—Amy, Lisa, and Heather—before settling in the United States in the mid-1980s. Settling is a word we use loosely, as their first stop was to a remote mountain town high up in the Colorado Rockies. There she held down the fort as Ken traveled abroad for work, hauling three little girls to school in minus-thirty degree weather, navigating the particulars of an entirely new country and culture—including learning how to drive on the opposite side of the road, and a very funny misunderstanding where she asked a stranger for a torch—and did it all with her family thousands of miles away.

From Colorado they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where they would stay for nearly thirty years. It's there that their daughters grew up and ultimately ventured out in the world—Amy to the San Francisco Bay Area, Lisa to Philadelphia, and Heather to Chicago—before Ken and Geri moved along themselves. First they relocated to Marsing, Idaho, another remote but beautiful town where they were surrounded by vineyards and orchards, and ultimately found their home in Northwest Arkansas (Bella Vista, and Fayetteville). Those years brought countless triumphs and challenges, but through all the ups and downs she was the best mom, a great friend, and a devoted and loving wife.

As a mom, she was a comforting and magical figure. She made sure her daughters felt safe and held by her calm consistency, while keeping their mischief firmly in check and blaming any bad behavior no-one would own up to on "the fairies." In turn, they were captivated by her and would sit in rapt attention while she put her make-up on in the morning, pretend to be her as they played dress-up in her nightgowns and high heels, and marvel at her beauty with loud cheers when she got dressed up for a night out with their Dad, hooting "Woo-woos" as she twirled.

Those characteristics of support, high standards, and a touch of irreverence built an unshakable bond with her daughters, and carried them through their entire lives. She was the person they all came to for a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, or when they just needed a good chat. As her daughters got married, she extended that same loving support to their partners, Zaheer, Haigen, and Dana. She had special bonds with each of them, and they are deeply grateful for the gift of having Geri as another mom.

She was the invisible scaffolding of her daughters' lives, holding them up as they navigated the peaks and valleys of their own paths, especially as Amy and Heather became mothers themselves. Being a grandmother was one of the great joys of her life, and she doted lovingly on each of her grandkids. Without her, for the first time it feels like the training wheels are truly off, but her invisible hand will be hovering just behind, ready to right her girls whenever they wobble.

Moving so much undoubtedly had its challenges, but making friends wasn't one of them. Geri was the type of person people gravitated towards. She was warm and caring, inquisitive and supportive. She laughed easily and was almost impossibly fair and compassionate. She stood up, always, for the underdog, and could see all sides to every conflict. There was no one better to have in your corner. Most recently, she found great friendship in her Mahjong club in Fayetteville, and her family sends all of the wonderful women she played with their deep gratitude for being a haven in this new place, and condolences for the hollow she surely left behind.

Her partner on all of life's adventures was her soulmate, Ken. She loved him with all her heart, and together they built a beautiful family, life, and partnership. Words fail to describe the bond they had, it was the two of them against the world. Even in this last, most difficult year, Ken was her tireless caretaker, the champion in her corner, and the unshakable rock by her side.

She was all of those things—mother, friend, wife—but there were so many more little special traits that made her who she was: She couldn't stand movies with snooping, and would leave the room in agony any time a character rifled through another's drawers. She read constantly, seeking knowledge about every topic from nutrition to metaphysics, her side of the bed always piled high with stacks of books. She loved her laptop, and YouTube in particular, as it was a window into all of the fascinating quirks, interests, and talents of humanity.

Throughout her battle with cancer, she never uttered a word of complaint.

A good bargain made her world go 'round.

She loved any handy little gadget that made life a little easier.

Her favorite season was Spring.

In her last days her family surrounded her with love, memories, laughter, and tearful goodbyes. Ultimately, she left this world at peace, in the presence of her one true love.

We would like to thank her tremendous care team at Highlands Oncology, the angels at Willard Walker Hospice Home, and the countless friends, family, and loved ones who offered prayers and support while Geri and her family navigated this difficult time.

She is survived by her husband Kenneth Donald Hines; daughters Amy (Zaheer) Hines-Shaikh, Lisa (Haigen Pearson) Hines, Heather (Dana) Green; three beautiful grandchildren Razak Kenneth Ayaan Shaikh, Fozia Sarwari Lily Shaikh, and Julian Kenneth Green; her loving sisters Mary (the late George) Mansfield, Elenor (Tim) Meehan, and Clare (Paul) Callaghan, and many wonderful nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her father Raymond McKenna, her mother Mary Maloney McKenna, aunts Auntie Jo, Auntie Nora, and Auntie Lily; her beloved brother-in-law George Mansfield, and her other soulmates: two orange tabbies named Joe and Wannie, and a rotund white shorthair named Miss Kitty.

A private memorial service was held Tuesday, March twenty-fourth at Nelson Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Arkansas with immediate family in attendance. If you wish to celebrate our dearest Geri, we ask that you think of her when the sun hits your face on a beautiful day, whenever you find just the exact perfect thing for the task at hand, or any time you score a killer bargain.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

We love you Geraldine, Geri, Mommy, Granny. We know wherever you are you are laughing, joyful, infinite, but down here we will miss you forever.