Geraldine "Gerry" Dugan

Geraldine Theresa Dugan, age 89, passed away on October 16, 2024.
Born in Detroit in 1935, Gerry was the oldest child of three, growing up in a typical Irish Catholic family. Gerry met the love of her life, Patrick, in high school. They were married on June 30th, 1956, sharing sixty-five wonderful years of marriage and raising four children together. Gerry was a very supportive wife, mother and friend, always bringing out the best in all she met. She believed in the good in everyone and would support you in anything you wanted to try or do; taking the time to ask you how you were and celebrating your smallest and largest accomplishments.
Education was an integral part of her life, pursuing both bachelors and master's degrees in Elementary education. She was an amazing educator in all facets, a constant teacher her entire life. Whether you were lucky enough to have her as your classroom teacher or knew her on a personal level, Gerry touched your life in a loving way. She loved to share the knowledge of the world and reveled seeing the joy in her students faces when teaching. Being a teacher was a role that she was honored to hold and considered it to be of great importance.
She was a woman of strong faith who started each day by saying the rosary and making sure she covered everyone that needed a little bit of help from above. Many years were spent serving as a Eucharistic minister and Catechism teacher for Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Family holidays were important events in her household. St. Partick's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve were always a treat to be included in, as she was never one to exclude anyone and made every event a family affair.
Gerry enjoyed volunteering with several groups, including her sorority of Delta Kappa Gamma, The American Association of University Women, The Plymouth Historical Society, her golf league and condominium association. She appreciated the beauty of the outdoors and would spend hours on her back deck watching the birds feed. Her summers were spent traveling the U.S., enjoying the beauty of the National Parks and the beach in Pentwater, Michigan.
She was fortunate enough to retire from Plymouth Canton Schools in 2005 after 30 years of teaching, which allowed her many years to spend time in the Irish Hills on their lake property. Upon retirement their travel extended into Europe, Australia and South America. They also started a family tradition that continues to this day, spending Easter break in Orange Beach, Alabama, with their beloved children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Gerry provided a refuge for many people she met in life. She was great at understanding what help they may have needed, which could have been a big hug, listening ear or a place to live for a while. She touched and left a lasting impact on everyone who met her. She was one of the most giving people you would ever meet. She appreciated the joys of the little things in life and took nothing for granted.
She is survived by her 4 children; Steven (Linda), Timothy (Martha), Kelleigh (Frank) and Patrick (Monique); 8 grandchildren, Kristina (Daniel), Brandon (Kari), Mattie, Ryan (Bailey), Jonathon (Lauren), Jake (Kylee), Evelyn and Thea; 5 great grandchildren, Katera, Kaylee, Blake, Kyle and Bentley and many beloved nieces and nephews. Gerry is predeceased by her father, Harold, her mother, Evelyn and brothers Jack (Helen) and Jim (Karen).
A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, October 22nd at 10:30 A.M at The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica Catholic Church, 2100 W. 12 Mile Rd, Royal Oak. Visitation at church begins at 10:00 A.M.
The family suggests memorial tributes to Angela Hospice, 14100 Newburgh Road, Livonia, Michigan 48154.