Geraldine Elizabeth Fijal
Donation protected
Geraldine Elizabeth Fijal
July 11th 1944- August 18th 2021
Geraldine Elizabeth Fijal, 77, passed away at her home with her loving family at her side on August 18 2021. Her long fight with cancer was worn as a badge of honor and as hard as it was for her, she never let it show. Always putting the concerns of others before her own. Her strength and fight will never be forgotten.
Geraldine Elizabeth D’Amico was born on July 11th 1944, to Doris Blaney and Anthony D’Amico in Trenton, New Jersey.
Geri had plenty of wonderful stories of childhood in New Jersey. Playing in her fathers corner store, riding her bicycle on rooftops, and many adventures with her sister Sheila at her grandparents house.
Graduating from high school in 1963 , she worked her way through many jobs including a job as assistant manager at Spalding, which was a rare position for a woman to hold at that time, but Geri was never one to be afraid to be heard. She was the office manager at Beckstrand Cancer Foundation and her most recent job was at her son Jarrett’s company, where she was the business manager. But her most rewarding job was being a stay at home mom.
She met her husband Frank Fijal on a rainy day in 1966 when her car wouldn’t start and with a little luck and fate, it was love at first sight.
Three short years later they were married in Westfield Massachusetts. On August 30th 1969.
The day before their first anniversary Geri became a mother to the first of her 3 children, Jason. Three years later came Jarrett and seven years after that Amanda was born. She was an amazing mother who stayed involved in all of her children’s school and life activities. From cub scouts den mom, to coaching soccer, ballet and skateboarding, to college prep and into adulthood. Through all the ups and downs she was always there with words of advice or a shoulder to cry on. She was the rock and foundation of the family.
Geri became a proud grandmother in 1998 to Olivia Jude Fijal
Geri loved with open arms the spouses of her children. Jeff Weidemann who married her daughter Amanda and Brigitte
Hagerman who married her son Jason. She loved them as her own. She had a special relationship with both of them.
Geri will be remembered as a great friend. She bragged of her love of her friends and the adventures and misadventures they embarked upon. Overseas travels with her friends or laughing at a story with her brother in law. She could laugh and talk with friends for hours. She was there for anyone who needed to talk, cry, vent, or just have a good old laugh. She was the epitome of a true friend. Her sense of humor was a gift she shared daily. If she wasn't laughing, she was smiling. Geri held on to lifelong friendships. She enjoyed and loved her friends and kept a special place for all of them.
Always kind to animals, a lover of a good book, player of video games, she loved fall in New England , getting out on the golf course, making art, creating with clay, paint or pencils. The simple enjoyment of a good meal . Spending Sundays during football season playing Fantasy Football. She loved tulips in the spring. She loved getting out to the casino to play slots. She loved a afternoon swim in her pool. The appreciation of all the simple little things. Geri loved life, and living it to the fullest with her friends and family. She was always there for us and taught her family to treat all living things with kindness and respect. She was a role model we can only hope to live up to. She was not only our mother, she was our best friend. She will be missed by many.
Geri is survived by her loving husband of 52 yrs Frank Fijal, her son Jason Fijal and wife Brigitte Fijal, her son Jarrett Fijal, her daughter Amanda Fijal and husband Jeff Weidemann, her granddaughter Olivia Fijal, her sister Shelia D’Amico, her brother in laws Ted (Chub) Fijal and John Fijal and all of her extended family and loving friends.
Geraldine Elizabeth D’Amico was born on July 11th 1944, to Doris Blaney and Anthony D’Amico in Trenton, New Jersey.
Geri had plenty of wonderful stories of childhood in New Jersey. Playing in her fathers corner store, riding her bicycle on rooftops, and many adventures with her sister Sheila at her grandparents house.
Graduating from high school in 1963 , she worked her way through many jobs including a job as assistant manager at Spalding, which was a rare position for a woman to hold at that time, but Geri was never one to be afraid to be heard. She was the office manager at Beckstrand Cancer Foundation and her most recent job was at her son Jarrett’s company, where she was the business manager. But her most rewarding job was being a stay at home mom.
She met her husband Frank Fijal on a rainy day in 1966 when her car wouldn’t start and with a little luck and fate, it was love at first sight.
Three short years later they were married in Westfield Massachusetts. On August 30th 1969.
The day before their first anniversary Geri became a mother to the first of her 3 children, Jason. Three years later came Jarrett and seven years after that Amanda was born. She was an amazing mother who stayed involved in all of her children’s school and life activities. From cub scouts den mom, to coaching soccer, ballet and skateboarding, to college prep and into adulthood. Through all the ups and downs she was always there with words of advice or a shoulder to cry on. She was the rock and foundation of the family.
Geri became a proud grandmother in 1998 to Olivia Jude Fijal
Geri loved with open arms the spouses of her children. Jeff Weidemann who married her daughter Amanda and Brigitte
Hagerman who married her son Jason. She loved them as her own. She had a special relationship with both of them.
Geri will be remembered as a great friend. She bragged of her love of her friends and the adventures and misadventures they embarked upon. Overseas travels with her friends or laughing at a story with her brother in law. She could laugh and talk with friends for hours. She was there for anyone who needed to talk, cry, vent, or just have a good old laugh. She was the epitome of a true friend. Her sense of humor was a gift she shared daily. If she wasn't laughing, she was smiling. Geri held on to lifelong friendships. She enjoyed and loved her friends and kept a special place for all of them.
Always kind to animals, a lover of a good book, player of video games, she loved fall in New England , getting out on the golf course, making art, creating with clay, paint or pencils. The simple enjoyment of a good meal . Spending Sundays during football season playing Fantasy Football. She loved tulips in the spring. She loved getting out to the casino to play slots. She loved a afternoon swim in her pool. The appreciation of all the simple little things. Geri loved life, and living it to the fullest with her friends and family. She was always there for us and taught her family to treat all living things with kindness and respect. She was a role model we can only hope to live up to. She was not only our mother, she was our best friend. She will be missed by many.
Geri is survived by her loving husband of 52 yrs Frank Fijal, her son Jason Fijal and wife Brigitte Fijal, her son Jarrett Fijal, her daughter Amanda Fijal and husband Jeff Weidemann, her granddaughter Olivia Fijal, her sister Shelia D’Amico, her brother in laws Ted (Chub) Fijal and John Fijal and all of her extended family and loving friends.
Geri always wanted to visit The Gentle Barn, an amazing animal rescue, so we have decided to set up a fund under Geri's name and all donations will go to The Gentle Barn.
The Gentle Barn is a 501(c)(3). Teaching people kindness and compassion to animals, each other and our planet.
The Gentle Barn is a 501(c)(3). Teaching people kindness and compassion to animals, each other and our planet.
Organizer
Jarrett Fijal
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA