Geraldine “Gerri” Rahl

Longtime resident of Tempe, Arizona died May 25th at 3:50 a.m. in Illinois with her family at Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hospice facility. Born in 1934, to Polish immigrants, she lived in Chicago until she married her first husband, Francis H. Mialkowski in 1953.

She is survived by four children from this marriage; George Mialkowski (Arizona), Joseph Rahl (Florida), Gloria Mialkowski DeRiggi (Illinois) and Frank Mialkowski (Arizona). She leaves behind her grandchildren; Tiffany DeRiggi, Brittany DeRiggi, Lauren Mialkowski, Christopher Mialkowski and Justin Rahl.

She graduated from DePaul University with a Degree in Laboratory Technology but Gerri’s life revolved around charity work, church, community, and staying active with friends and family. In 1967 she married the true love of her life Earl S. Rahl and they moved to Fall Creek, WI then Chippewa Falls, WI where she worked diligently at Kmart for 23 years until reaching retirement. Earl and Gerri then settled in Tempe, AZ planning on enjoying retirement life together but unfortunately Earl passed away in 1999.

Always remaining active with church and community, Gerri lived simple. She enjoyed cards with a potluck dinner with friends, taking long walks and her deep love of animals was apparent. Volunteering at the hospital, starting a bereavement group at her church, she was a member and leader of the church's funeral committee and a Eucharistic Minister delivering communion to the home bound, her unselfish giving had no limits. She prided herself in taking care of those less fortunate.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 29^th from 10 a.m. until time of Mass 11 a.m. at the Kerry FuneralHome & Cremation Care Center, 7020 W. 127^th Street, Palos Heights. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Arizona where she will be reunited with her husband Earl at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, consider the following instead, send a Mass card, Her exact words were, “that’s the only thing that will do me any good!”, or a donation in her name to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001 “so we can do someone else some good!”