Geraldine M. Manning

1949 - 2025

Geraldine M. Manning

WENDELL, MA - Geraldine M Manning, 76, of Jennison Road, Wendell, died October 12th, after a lengthy battle with dementia.

Geraldine Marie Manning was born on January 9, 1949, in South Boston, the daughter of Mary Meegan and Thomas Manning.

Geri grew up in South Boston, in the housing projects, and later a house on West 6th Street. She attended the Girls Latin School in Dorchester, and graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a degree in German Language and Comparative Literature, in 1969. She was the first in her family to get a college education.

She was an active member of the antiwar movement of the late 1960's, peacefully protesting at all of the major marches. After college, she spent time traveling Europe, before returning to Western Massachusetts. She met her husband, David Walsh, a fellow activist, probably at The Drake, and settled down in Wendell. They married in 1982, and had 2 children, Liam and Brendan, who were also raised alongside David's earlier children, Peter, Lorien, Samuel and Dennis.

Geri worked as a Librarian at Amherst College, until her husband's passing in 1994. She raised her children as a single mother, with the help from many in the local community, and worked for many years as the Librarian at Swift River School in New Salem. Later she worked as the Children's Librarian at Forbush Memorial Library in Westminster before her retirement.

As a single mother for most of her children's life, Geri provided a thoughtful and loving approach to parenting. Her home provided a warm and accepting refuge to friends. She was a mother to many. Her passions were literature, music, and film. About her time as a Librarian, she always said "I don't care what a kid reads, as long as they've got a book in their hands". She relished in presiding over a renaissance of young adult reading, from Harry Potter to The Hunger Games. You could always hear 60's Rock and Roll blasting out of the house as you arrived, with an Oscar winning film playing on DVD. She was a highly intelligent and opinionated lady, with a big heart and a savvy wit.

In her later years, she moved to Turners Falls to be closer to her grandchildren, and was always showering them with gifts, advice, and (sometimes unwanted) arts and crafts supplies.

Geri is survived by her older brother, Thomas Manning, of North Carolina. She leaves her children, Liam Walsh, of Gig Harbor, Washington, and Brendan Walsh, of Montague. Her stepchildren, Peter Walsh, Lorien Wood, and Dennis Heinemann. She also leaves her "#3 Sons" Lee Thomas, Isaac Fitzgerald, Nick Santucci, and Eric Woodbury. Her nieces and nephews, Michael Frechette, Shauna Gagliano, and Brian Manning, and her grandchildren, Skylar Lester, Rowena Wojeck Walsh, Edward Walsh, Ella Walsh, Elizabeth Walsh, Cormac Walsh, and Tristan Walsh.

She is predeceased by her father, Thomas Manning, her mother, Mary (Meegan) Manning, her sister Patricia (Manning) Frechette, her husband, David Walsh, her stepson, Samuel Walsh, and his daughter, Devon Lester, her niece, Linda Frechette, and her beloved Irish Wolfhound, Rory.

A celebration of life will be held at a later time.

Witty's Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM