Geradette M. (Fitzgibbons) Geveshausen

Geradette M. (Fitzgibbons) Geveshausen

March 29, 1954 – February 14, 2025 (Age 70)

Preceded in death by parents, Josephine and John “Jack” Fitzgibbones; baby brother, Louis. Survived by husband, Dan Geveshausen; daughters, Nikki Geveshausen and Anni (Marc) Chlopek; grandchildren: Eleanor, Shay, Jethro and Hudson.

The family will receive friends Friday, February 21st from 5pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel.

Service will begin Saturday, February 22nd at 10:30 am at the West Center Chapel with Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Celebration of life from 1pm – 4pm at The Good Life in Millard.

Memorials can be directed to the Omaha Habitat for Humanity.

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On March 29th, 1954, a beautiful soul was born. Josephine and John “Jack” Fitzgibbons had a baby girl and named her Geradette Marie – after Saint Gerard, the patron saint of pregnant women. They called her Geri for short. A little more than a year later, her father was involved in a car accident, which took his life. Shortly after, her baby brother Louis (named many years later) was stillborn. Due to these life changing circumstances, Josephine and Geri moved in with her grandparents, Carmello and Alfia Morello. They lived there for most of Geri’s young life, where she learned what it meant to be an Italian. Every Sunday, they attended Church, followed by a big spaghetti dinner with a little bit of wine. She learned enough Italian to be able to speak it with her mother, grandparents, and aunts. She also learned a few choice words that she later shared with her daughters.

A little later in life, Josephine and Geri moved into a small house less than a block from her aunts Mary and Nellie. Mary (Frank) had 3 children and Nellie (Bill) had 4 children. Her aunts, uncles and cousins were her family. In fact, they spent most of their weekends, summers and winters together at a cabin at Lake Waconda built by her uncles and grandfather. As teenagers will be teenagers, they would often whine to their parents about having to go to the cabin on the weekends and spend time with family instead of with friends. The adults would often respond by saying that they would shove the lake or nearby cornfield up “where the sun don’t shine.”

Geri attended Blessed Sacrament through 8th grade and High School at both Notre Dame and Holy Name. Upon graduation, she attended Clarkson College where she studied to become a nurse. Geri was a nurse for 38 years, taking care of patients before, during and after surgery. Patients and colleagues could always count on her for comfort, kindness, laughter and smiles. She was a mentor, colleague, and a true, lifelong friend.

One night, while at the bar she and her nurse friends frequented, she was approached by a man. He introduced himself by bringing his hand to his chest, saying, “Nurse, nurse, I’m having a heart attack.” Her response? Not appropriate for these purposes. The result? Love. Geri and Dan were married on May 1st, 1982, and would spend 43 beautiful years together. Dan says that they’re marriage was perfect… most of the time.

On July 9th, 1983, they welcomed their first daughter, Nicolette “Nikki” Marie. On November 18th, 1984, they welcomed their second daughter, Andrea “Anni” Lynn.  Nikki and Anni could always count on their mother. Whether it was school, sports, choir, heartbreak or hard life lessons, Geri was always there. She made lasting impacts on the lives of her grandchildren as well. Eleanor, Shay, Jethro and Hudson loved spending time with their Nani, and she cared for them deeply.

Geri was kind, bold, passionate, thoughtful. She gave a small piece of her heart to everyone she knew until her heart was too tired to go on. As a friend said, “The mold was broken when Geri was born”. Truer words have never been spoken.

You were the rock of our family. We will see you in the stars.

Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com