Geraldine (Jeri) McLaughlin, aged 73, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Regency Columbia Village on November 22, 2020. Jeri was born on December 28, 1946, to the late Joseph and Bertha McLaughlin in Philadelphia, PA. She grew up in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA.
Jeri married Peter Smerick on October 10, 1970, and relocated to Eugene, OR, and then Los Angeles, CA, where their only daughter, Christina, was born in 1973. They decided to return to the East Coast to be near family and settled in New Jersey, Maryland, and finally Virginia.
Jeri worked as an administrative assistant and event planner for most of her career. In particular, she was proud of her work with the Coal Employment Project and the Civil Air Patrol, although the friends she made at every workplace were a source of joy. She loved her grandchildren, Nova and Sylvie, very much and spoiled them with lots of ice cream. She was a loyal friend and the life of the party.
She will be sorely missed by her daughter, Christina, and husband Ryan Garrett; grandchildren Nova and Sylvie, her brother and sister-in-law Joseph (Mick) and Helen Jean McLaughlin, nieces, nephews, and countless friends.
“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.” — Khalil Gibran
Condolence(1)-
Martha ILER says
December 1, 2020 at 3:14 pmChristina, so sorry to hear about your mom. It is so very hard to lose you mother, my prayers will be with you!
I share with you the agony of your grief,
The anguish of your heart finds echo in my own.
I know I cannot enter all you feel
Nor bear with you the burden of your pain;
I can but offer what my love does give:
The strength of caring,
The warmth of one who seeks to understand
The silent storm-swept barrenness of so great a loss.
This I do in quiet ways,
That on your lonely path
You may not walk alone.
— Howard Thurman