Geraldine "Gerrie" Sears

Geraldine Power Sears, age 89, passed away surrounded by loved ones on February 25th, 2026 in her home in San Juan Capistrano, CA. She was born on July 15th, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois to Gerald Mathias Power and Elizabeth Sarsfield Power.

Known affectionately as 'Gerrie,' she was raised in Chicago where she cultivated a lifelong love of learning. In 1962, at age 26, she headed west and found her place along the Southern California coast that she would come to cherish for the rest of her life. In 1967, she married Ken Sears, her devoted partner and companion of nearly 60 years. With a passion for seeing the world, her career as a travel agent spanned many decades. She traveled extensively and was always the trusted person friends and family called for travel advice and guidance.

Gerrie was known for her intelligence, strong will, and a natural gift for commanding a room; she lived with intention and high standards. She appreciated beauty in many forms, especially art, painting, photography, and California's vivid coastal sunsets. Always proud of her beautiful home, it became the place where family members both lived and gathered, where holidays were celebrated, and many games of Rummy 5000 were played. She was generous with her time, her stories, and her advice, maintaining many lasting friendships throughout her life.

She is survived by her husband Ken Sears; children Mark Iennaco and Julie Sears Ward; grandchildren Alexander Miall, Max Ward, John Ward, and Libby Lucas; great-grandchildren Brooke Scoggins, Gavin Ward, Ellie Ward, and Alfie Ward; and brother Jack Power and sister-in-law Darlene Power. She was preceded in death by her beloved sisters Virginia Cipriani and Alice Leonard, and Alice's daughters – Gerrie's cherished nieces – Jeanne Marie McGarry and Mary Kaye Stolz. She also leaves behind many extended family and dear friends whose lives she touched over the years.

She will be remembered as the matriarch of her family, a mentor to her friends, and a woman of unmistakable presence and conviction. Her legacy lives on in the family she raised, the home she built, and the lives she touched along the way.

A memorial service will be held this Sunday March 8th, 2026 at O'Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills, CA from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Gerrie's family invites all who knew and loved her to join them in remembering her.