Geraldine Marie O'Brien

Geraldine M. O’Brien, 78, passed away peacefully at home in San Diego, CA on January 25, 2026, surrounded by family and loved ones after a long illness. She is survived by her three siblings: Denise Lane, Karen Curran, and Lori Thomas of La Mirada, CA; five nieces and nephews: Sean Curran, Meaghan Thomas, Colleen Sybor, David Lane, and Ryan Thomas and by eight grand nieces and nephews: Isaiah, Eli, and Aili Sybor, Aiden and Logan Curran, Owen and Rhys Lane and Cruise Thomas. Her brother John Steven O’Brien predeceased her. There are many words to describe Geri; loving, thoughtful, kind, curious, loyal and encouraging. Although pleasant words, these words mean so much more than that. They described the way she moved through her life every day. She noticed people, she listened, and she paid attention to what others needed. One of her greatest achievements was in the way she showed up for others in her life whether as a family member, teacher, mentor teacher, colleague or friend. She opened up the world for her students helping them see that science just wasn’t in textbooks. She had a special gift for instilling natural curiosity, for helping children ask the ‘how and why’ questions and then helping them find the answers. It was about building a foundation for appreciating the world in which they lived. Geri was an outstanding Science teacher, mentor, and educator in San Diego for over 35 years in both private and public education. She had a gift that could light up a child’s natural curiosity to see the world as something wonderful and worth exploring. To her family, colleagues, and friends, she always found a way to give of herself…she made the time, she made the room, and she always made people feel seen.
Funeral services will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 2766 Navajo Rd., El Cajon, CA 92020 at 10:30 am on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Charitable donations may be made in Geri’s name to the donor’s favorite charity.
Geri was born in Dorchester, MA in 1947 and moved with her loving parents, John T. and Aili M. O’Brien, to La Mirada, CA in 1954. She attended public and private schools in La Mirada and graduated St. Paul High School in 1965, where she was enrolled in Honors classes, participated in the photography club, and was the statistician for the boys’ football team! Her childhood was a joy! Known as the neighborhood baby-sitter, family chauffeur, thrower of perfect football spirals, and thrower and hitter of baseballs with power, she was, according to her sister Denise, “a great older sister who always wanted to keep her 4 younger siblings in line. She accomplished this with military precision.” She also exposed her sisters and her sisters’ friends to many genres of music, especially Broadway musicals which after initially rejecting, they later happily adopted, and still are enjoying to this day! It also helped that Geri was able to perfectly whistle on pitch for any Broadway score she heard.
After graduating St. Paul High School, Geri attended Long Beach State, and then entered the Sisters of Mercy in Burlingame, CA. After moving to San Diego, she completed her Undergraduate and Masters’ Degrees at San Diego State University. She taught in the Diocese of San Diego at St. John the Evangelist and St. Therese Academy, and later in the Sweetwater Union High School District at Sweetwater Union High School. Throughout her teaching career, she wore many educational ‘hats’: teacher, Vice-principal, Science Fair Judge/Coordinator, Mentor teacher, Science Dept. Chair, Senior Class Advisor, and WASC Accreditation Co-Chair. Her out of school hobbies and activities were equally impressive- a true Renaissance woman: she excelled at woodworking, gardening, crafting, athletic endeavors, cooking/baking, calligraphy, and the ability to fix almost anything! She also enjoyed writing, poetry and especially music. While at the Sisters of Mercy convent in Burlingame, CA she was a member of the Scola Musical Ensemble which performed liturgical musical selections appearing at St. Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco, to present Handel’s Messiah. The group also recorded liturgical albums which were enjoyed by many listeners.
Geri lived the adage “Do not defer kindnesses; do them now for you will not pass this way again.” She understood that this life, this path we walk is brief and precious and that showing kindness is the best use of the time we are given. Even in times when she was facing her own health struggles, she befriended fellow patients offering smiles and conversation that made them feel seen. Her legacy will be the many kindnesses that she showed to all of those she touched throughout her lifetime. May she rest in peace and her memory be a blessing.