Geraldine “Jerry” Jarzobski

Geraldine “Jerry” Jarzobski

July 2, 1939 – June 15, 2024

Geraldine Jarzobski “Jerry,” age 84 of Omaha, passed away on Saturday, June 15, 2024.  Jerry was born on July 2, 1939 to Mary (Paquette) and Nelson Rahaim in Worcester, Massachusetts.  The oldest of five, Jerry graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Worcester in 1957.  She went on to attend Worcester State Teachers College and became a kindergarten teacher.  Jerry taught kindergarten at the Gage Street School in Worcester before moving and teaching in Omaha, Nebraska.

Jerry (Mrs. J) married her high school sweetheart, Dr. Joseph Jarzobski (Dr. J) in Worcester in 1962, moving to Omaha shortly thereafter. Joe and Jerry spent 63 years together, having four children: Patricia “Patty,” Anthony “Tony,” Edward “Eddie” and Joanne.

Jerry loved to shop. Her motto was “If you find something you like, buy it in every color,” and home shopping was her favorite channel. Jerry and Joe loved to travel with their friends and host the biggest celebrations in their home. Their New Year’s Eve parties and 4th of July parties were legendary, and everyone was welcome at the holidays.

Jerry was a fantastic cook and baker—if she made one meatball, she made 500; there would be dozens of loaves of banana bread or cookies, trays of baklava and kibbe, gallons of pasta sauce, and hundreds of cucumber sandwiches. She didn’t know how to cook on a small scale. The house always had the aroma of onions and garlic simmering and there was always room at the table and food on the stove for friends to join for a meal.

Jerry’s favorite sport was gambling. She could sit at a slot machine for days or all night, whether in Las Vegas or across the river in Iowa. Everyone’s Christmas stocking always had a scratch ticket or three. Keno, rummy, scrabble, cribbage, you name it she played it.

Jerry’s gardens would be overflowing with flowers, and she loved a bouquet of yellow or red roses. Her face would light up when someone gave them to her and she took pride in having the best gardens on the block.

Jerry had a wicked sense of humor and would help anyone out of a bind. She’d talk to her kids several times a day and was the first person they’d call with an idea, a problem to solve, a heartbreak, or a story to tell. She had a tender heart. She rarely could say no to her children and never said no to her grandchildren.

Jerry was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother, sister, and dearest friends, and she didn’t want to outlive any of them. She is survived by her four children: Patty (Emily), Tony (Brenda), Eddie (Stacia) and Joanne (wild & free); her four beautiful granddaughters, who brought her the greatest joy: Nicole, Katelyn, Alexis, and Kensie; her sisters, Ann Marie Liseno of Worcester and Sister Pat Rahaim of East Providence; her niece and two nephews; and a multitude of grand-dogs she secretly loved but openly tolerated.

Buy a scratch ticket, wear red, send someone you love roses, and remember Jerry.

_______________________________________________________________

SERVICES: Tuesday, June 18^th at 1:30pm at the West Center Chapel.  Interment, Resurrection Cemetery.  To view a live broadcast of the Service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Heart Association, Operation Smile, or the Alzheimer’s Foundation.