Geraldine Quinn

QUINN Geraldine Quinn quietly passed away on March 31, 2012 with her loving family by her side at Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT. Cherished wife of Henry Quinn for 56 years, she was predeceased by 3 children; Jimmy Moran, Mary Jane Felix, and Jamie Quinn and is survived by 1 brother, Jack Holt, 3 children, Greg Quinn of Staatsburg NY, BJ Quinn Shook of Auburn, CA and Ginger Quinn Dishian of Shelton, CT; 14 grandchildren; Nicole, Frank, Mary, Michelle, Katie, Ryan, Keri, Courtney, Brittney, Lizzie, Stacey, Shawn, Jamie and Jessie, 23 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren and many, many nieces & nephews. Born in the rural environs of Rumford, ME, she went on to earn a Nursing degree and eventually moved to Connecticut where the redheaded, green eyed beauty captured the attention of a recent Canadian immigrant and neither ever looked back. They soon married and gave birth to their first child in Bridgeport, CT and then moved to Devon where they founded Tiny Tot Nursery School which they ran from the converted 1st floor of their home. Famously known as "Aunt Gerry," her reach touched the lives of hundreds of children over the years including, in some cases, the children of children she cared for. She was always surrounded by children who instinctively gravitated to her like magnets and she considered all of them her family. One of the testaments to her impact on the lives of children was that through the years, many of the children, some who came in diapers, have kept in touch with her long after leaving her care and having families of their own. In addition to the day care center which opened at 6am and closed whenever the last child was picked up to accommodate all work schedules, "Aunt Gerry and Uncle Henry" were uniquely known for taking in women with children in trouble who needed shelter for days or months at a time. Their doors were always open to the distressed and there were times when children were left with them until the mothers got back on their feet. Some children actually ended up becoming permanent members of the family. It was not uncommon to have any number of extra plates set at the dinner table. She ran the day care center for over 3 decades. In later years, after she and her husband retired from the business of caring for children they opened a horse boarding facility in Milford and eventually moved it to their new home on Long Hill Avenue in Shelton. Upon Henry's passing in 2001 she moved in with her loving daughter, Ginger's family in Shelton and lived with them until a stroke necessitated her moving to Shelton Lakes Rehab. Viewing will be on Tuesday April 3rd, from 5-7 pm. Her funeral services will be on Wednesday at 10am at Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Road Shelton, CT 06484 Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Griffin Hospital Hospice, Derby CT 06418. Leave messages of condolence to her family at www.riverviewfh.com