Anthony, Gerianne

02/20/1957-08/07/2022

After a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease, Gerianne passed away peacefully on Sunday, 8/7/2022 with her loving family at her side.  She is predeceased by her father Charles, several aunts, uncles and cousins Donna Sullivan, Peter Mattice, Greg Sullivan and Jon Kaiser.  She is survived by her mother,  Ann (Sullivan) Anthony, brother, Thomas (Janet) Anthony, Niece, Megan (Evan) Hernandez, nephew, Matthew (Emily Bischoff) Anthony, and her special 4-legged friends, Winnie and Oakley.

Gerianne was born on February 20, 1957, at Highland Hospital. She lived in the Southwedge neighborhood until her family moved to East Rochester in the early 1960’s.  Her name is derived from St. Gerard. She attended St. Jerome’s elementary school then transitioned to BOCES in Fairport and graduated from Fairport High School.  

After graduation, Gerianne worked for Chase Lincoln bank for many years in the check processing department.  After leaving Chase, she worked at the Friendly Home in Brighton in Environmental Services.

She developed many friendships during those times including lifelong friends Karen Keenan, Lucy Spronz,  Marie Spencer, Tim Blue, John and Maria Martens and Bob Falcone.

Anyone who knew Gerianne knows that she enjoyed many things.  She loved to travel.  She enjoyed her cruises to Jamaica, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caymen Islands.  She also loved travelling to Hawaii, Las Vegas, driving the Pacific Coast Highway in California as well as visiting Niagara Falls, Boston and Washington DC.

Gerianne was also an avid sports fan.  Growing up in East Rochester she cheered on the East Rochester Bomber football and basketball teams.  At one point she attended 120 straight Bomber Varsity basketball games with her Dad, both home and away.    The East Rochester village newspaper heard about this and interviewed her about the streak.  Her reply was that she loved ER and their sports teams and wanted to support as much as she could.

Also, growing up in a Cleveland Brown and Cleveland Indian household, she became a fan of Joe Montana’s San Francisco 49ers and the New York Yankees.  She also made a point of letting her family know when each of her teams beat a Cleveland team.  As the old 49ers started to retire, she changed allegiance to the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen and company.

Also being a true baseball fan, another joy of hers was watching the Little League World Series.  She would watch as many games as possible from the regional tournaments to the final game in Williamsport.

Gerianne was also a music fan.  When she was young, she saw this group on the old Andy Williams show that she really liked.  The group was the Osmond Brothers and she was a life long fan of the group and especially the leader of the group…little Donny Osmond.  One of her biggest thrills was when she attended the Hill Cumorah Pageant in Palmyra, she came out of the restroom and ran into Donny Osmond who was performing in the show.  With a  subsequent picture  taken with him and autograph in hand she returned to her seat to enjoy the rest of the show.  She still has the picture to this day.

However, she wasn’t just about the Osmond’s.  She actually had an eclectic taste in music.  She could listen to Pop, Big Band, Frankie Valli, the standards by the Rat Pack of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and one of her all time favorites Sammy Davis Jr.  Many trips to Melody Fair in North Tonawanda gave her the opportunity to see the likes of Glen Campbell, The King Family, Johnny Mathis, and Sammy Davis Jr.

Gerianne also had a love for musical theater.  Her favorite shows were Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease and The Jersey Boys.  Growing up in East Rochester, she always loved the annual talent show put on by St. Jerome’s Church.  The talent show had a yearly theme and was performed by the High School kids back in the 1970’s.  She always wanted to be part of it, from selling tickets, handing out programs, to being in the show that was called “The Best of Broadway” with her friends, Karen, Lucy and Marie.

In her later years, when she was limited as a result of Parkinson’s, she continued to enjoy all sports, watching football, baseball, basketball and golf on TV, as well as current events. She also enjoyed any craft activities, Bingo and of course having a beer with friends!

Gerianne was especially interested in the lives of her niece and nephew, Megan and Matt. She loved them dearly. 

Gerianne was loved by all that knew her.  She was a loyal friend and as one friend put it…”Their friendship was unwavering”.

She always loved her family and friends.  She was lucky enough to have a wonderful extended family.  Her aunts and uncles were very special to her.  Her cousins were like additional brothers and sisters.  She enjoyed the weekend gatherings with her family, whether it was at any aunt and uncle’s house or at Jones Pond in Anjelica where they all camped.

She was always the first to wish you happy birthday or Merry Christmas.  If there was ever a chance for a party, she was the first to sign up.

Gerianne was a bright light for her family.  Though she suffered through a terrible disease she battled with out complaint, and loved each and every one of you. 

Gerianne was a resident of St. John’s home for the last 2-1/2 years.  The family would like to thank the staff for their loving and compassionate care given to her.

Donations can be made in Gerianne’s memory to St. John’s Home Foundation, 150 Highland Ave, Rochester, NY 14620, directed to Hastings 2. 

God Bless You Geri.  May you rest in peace.

Funeral Mass Friday August 12, 9:30AM at St. Jerome’s Church 207 Garfield Street, East Rochester.