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Surrounded by her family, Geraldine Farrell Aksdal, age 60 and a lifelong resident of Toms River, passed away at home on March 29, 2018. The first child of Jack and Marian Farrell, Geri was born in 1957. She grew up on Sixth Avenue in a house built by her father. Geri graduated from St. Joseph High School and earned an Associates Degree in Nursing from Ocean County College. She returned to school 21 years later while working part time as a Registered Nurse and raising two teenagers. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bloomfield College where she graduated among the top of her class and was selected by her classmates to speak at their commencement.
A summer job on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights led to meeting her beloved Roy. They were married on July 19, 1980 and raised two children. Courtney is a Lieutenant in the Navy stationed in Mississippi, and Sean lives and works in Manhattan.
Geri was a dedicated nurse and advocate for accessible healthcare. As a young RN, she began her career as a staff nurse and eventually progressed into case management and public health. She spent most of her career with the Ocean County Health Department where she worked as a Home Care Coordinator and then Nurse Supervisor.
A woman of many passions, Geri loved running on her treadmill and in 5Ks. She enjoyed competing in golf tournaments and kayaking with Roy on Cedar Creek and around Cattus Island. She was an avid skier. She especially enjoyed an annual trip to Utah and après-ski with “a glass of ice and some Chardonnay.” She enjoyed hiking trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Yosemite, and climbed Preikestolen in Norway.
A lifelong love of travel began with a high school trip to Spain. Geri and Roy found their way to Italy, Ireland, France, Norway and back to Spain. They also took trips to London to visit Sean when he worked there, National Parks out West, Napa, the Caribbean and Hawaii. Family vacations to the Outer Banks in North Carolina and Florida were annual events.
Geri loved entertaining for family and friends. Her cousins, nieces and nephews were a constant presence in her home on birthdays and holidays. She kept a detailed notebook of plans and outcomes for each event and her unparalleled organization ensured that each party was better than the last and reflected how much she cared for family and friends. She was in a book club, loved to knit, and played Bunco. She also enjoyed cooking and trying new recipes, which she also neatly and methodically cataloged. A trusted and reliable source of support, she lovingly cared for her parents, aunt, and in-laws when they needed help.
Geri was a fierce supporter of progressive political candidates and those individuals trying to make the world a better place for everyone.
She is survived by her husband, Roy, her children Courtney and Sean, her brother Jack from West Windsor, NJ and the many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends who adored her.
A visitation will take place on Friday, April 6, 2018 from 11:30 to 12:30 at O’Brien Funeral Home, 505 Burnt Tavern Road, Brick, NJ followed by a brief memorial.
In lieu of flowers and memorial candles, contributions may be made to the Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ (cinj.org) 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.