Geraldine Rita BRIDGES

FUNERAL HOME

Kraft Bros. Funeral Directors

175 2nd Street

Woodland, California

Geraldine BRIDGES Obituary

BRIDGES, Geraldine Rita
Dec. 25, 1919 - April 1, 2010
Gerry Bridges passed in Woodland, CA on April 1, 2010 at the age of 90. Gerry was born in Woodland in a house at the corner of West and Main. Her parents were Joseph Wetzel, a local farmer, and Lavinia Beck. Gerry attended Holy Rosary Academy in Woodland with her sisters, Mary and Esther Wetzel. She attended St. Elisabeth's High School in Oakland, and then graduated from Holy Rosary Academy. She went to Providence School of Nursing in Oakland and became a registered nurse. She married Donald Bridges in 1942. She is preceded in death by her husband Donald; her sisters, Mary and Esther; son-in-law Guy Pierce; and grandsons, Jeremy and Matthew Hazen. She is survived by six children, Michael Bridges (Janet Howley), Marsha Pierce, Kathi (Dave) Ramsay, Marilee (James) Hazen, Lisa Bridges (Rairie), and Julie (Mark) Howley; 18 grandchildren, Matthew Bridges, Tara Bridges, Aaron (Erin Marie) Pierce, Heather Ramsay (Adam Szymkowski), Heidi Ramsay (Caruso), Holly Ramsay (Mike Boyd), Hillary Ramsay (Mike Schrader), Jessica Hazen, Kelsey Hazen, Alexandra Hazen, Mackenzie Hazen, Chad Rairie, Michelle Rairie, Clare Howley, Ally Howley, and Lucas Howley; 8 great-grandchildren, Elijah Pierce, Jonah Pierce, Simon Pierce, Brendan Caruso, Brody Caruso, Aidan Boyd, Gavin Boyd, and Ceraia Rairie. Her calabash family includes Frank, Edna, Dennis and Gerald Smith; Neil, Aloha, and Carroll Sinclair; Jack, Mary, Mike, John, and Lorraine McGuire; Aaron Claxton; Geoff Ernst; Sharleen Wilson; Roger Clark, and Sugar. Gerry has left her good friends in Woodland, Oak land, Bakersfield, Diamond Bar, Cal Poly Pomona, and all points east. Gerry was active in Girl Scouts as a district leader, camp nurse, and camp cook. Her hobbies included genealogy, crossword puzzles (as did her mother), feeding birds, and caring for her many pet dogs over the years. Gerry was well known for her friendliness and great sense of humor. We will miss Nana, Missy, Ruby and ''The Mother'' as she was called. A Visitation is scheduled for 6:00pm on Friday, April 9, 2010, at Kraft Bros. Chapel, 175 Second St, Woodland, with a Rosary to follow at 7:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Saturday, April 10, 2010 beginning at 8:30am, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 301 Walnut Street, Woodland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Girl Scouts of Central California South (Bakers field), 1831 Brundage Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93304 or to the National Audubon Society, 225 Varick Street, 7th Fl. New York, NY 10014. Kraft Bros. Funeral Dirs. is assisting the family with arrangements. Inquiries may be made by calling 530-662-4658.

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Published by The Sacramento Bee from Apr. 8 to Apr. 9, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Geraldine BRIDGES

4 Entries

Sue Kinsman

July 1, 2010

Missy was my Girl Scout leader in the 1970s. My heart is filled with pictures and memories of many learning moments, much growth and loads of laughter. I know that I have become a better person because of Missy's living example of love and kindness.

Christopher Pilkington

April 19, 2010

Calling all Bridges:

I wrote this to a now retired Human Resources Representative whom just started shortly before Gerry retired From The Cal Poly Pomona Foundation as a foodservice supervisor.....

It was a really great opportunity for Los Olivos to gain Gerry and it was a great example of what a mature worker can contribute. One of those HR success stories!

In those days at Los Olivos, the supervisors were like the students' Mothers or Grandmothers. Gerry took a liking to so many students. She was on everybody's A-list. There was a contingent of foreign students in the day that always appreciated her diligence in providing culturally appropriate food for the various religious holidays and these student groups would be the beneficiaries of various pack-outs that she organized.

A popular feature of the year was to see Gerry Perform the Chicken Dance at the Octoberfest Special Dinner. In those days we had musical entertainment at every function. I think Cinco de Mayo is the only event where live music can still be heard.

She raised her kids in Diamond Bar and had a condo at the top of Temple Ave. I used to water her plants and feed her cat. In later years, she came to my cello recitals and orchestra events at Pomona College. We ended up going on culinary adventures with fellow friend and LO retiree, Pat Armstrong. When she retired after 5 years, at 70 I think? She moved up with her two octogenarian sisters, whom had worked in Oakland at a newspaper, and they all cohabited a new home in Woodland, where they were all born and grew up together.

Pat and I visited Gerry several times over the years at that house and she would start driving and we would never know where we were going but, Gerry knew all the roads. She was quite a traveling showman. We saw the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield and the Hershey Chocolate Factory in Oakdale the State Capitol and many ballet recitals of her young granddaughters.

I used to call her up from some European Capital to check in and we'd go on and on. Her sisters were in their mid and upper nineties when they passed. A standard feature of their day was bourbon and water at 4 in the afternoon. Gerry introduced us to many wines at dinner before wines took off so to speak.

I miss her smile and cheerful laughter. Her voice was remarkably youthful.

Good Night Bridges! Sleep Well.

Gene and Joanne Abshier

April 12, 2010

Dear Bridges family; It is with sadness that we note the passing of Geraldine. She was a happy and gentle Christian lady who was gifted in many ways. We had the pleasure of knowing her for about 13 years and she graciously shared her genealogical records with us. She was a 2nd cousin to my father on the Beck side, her grandfather being Aaron and his brother Rev. Philemon being my dad's grandfather. We visited on December 9 with Gerry and she told us that she visited me and my twin sister when we were 5 days old in 1934. We planned on visiting her on March 30 in her home but instead saw her for the last time at Aldersons. She was a blessing to many and we all miss her. May she rest in peace and supreme joy.

Kraft Bros. Funeral Directors

April 8, 2010

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

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