Geraldine Hickey, 70, of Brookfield, Passed Peacefully

BROOKFIELD, CT — Geraldine (Geri) Hickey of Brookfield, CT died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by loved ones, on April 17, 2016 at Candlewood Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center in New Milford, CT. She was 70. She was predeceased by her husband Thomas J. Hickey in 1991.

Geri was born on February 27th, 1946 in Manhattan, NY, the youngest of five children. She spent her happy childhood years in Manhattan and Queens and was a New Yorker through and through. She attended Cathedral High School in Manhattan where she met her life-long best friends, Mary Hickey Walsh and Jeanette Roque Thompson. Geri met her husband Thomas at age 16. They were married on May 22, 1965 and were happily married for 26 years until Thomas' death in 1991 at age 51.

Geri worked for many years in hospital and nursing home admissions. She retired as the Director of Admissions for Flushing Hospital in Flushing, Queens. She loved her work and only retired when she did because of her declining health.

She was very, very proud of her Irish roots and visited Ireland several times. Nothing made her happier than spending time with her Irish relatives in Ireland or when they visited here.

Geri was afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 44 but she never lost her sense of humor during the difficult and painful years that ensued. A good example for us all.

She spent her last few years at Candlewood Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center where she made many friends. The family is grateful to the wonderful staff at Candlewood who gave Geri their friendship and many laughs as she faced her declining health.

Geri is survived by her son Brendan Hickey of Manhattan and her daughter Bridget McKenney and her husband, Jack McKenney, of Brookfield, CT. Geri's three grandchildren, Brendan, Henry and Shea McKenney, were the light and joy of her life and they are the reason she fought her declining health for as long and as hard as she did.
Geri is also survived by her brother Eamonn Hughes of Fresno, CA, sister Peggy Logan of Manhattan, and sister Nancy Vitt and her husband Tom of Berlin, NJ.

She has many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly and who will miss their "Aunt Jellybean" very much.
She was predeceased by her brother Franny Hughes.

Friends will be received from 2pm-5pm on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT.

Interment will be in Eldred Central Cemetery, Eldred, NY at the convenience of the family.

Contributions in Geri's memory may be made to the New Milford VNA / Hospice, 68 Park Lane Rd., New Milford, CT 06776.

Obituary courtesy of Green Funeral Home