Obituary of Geraldine L. Hadley

Geraldine L. Hadley, 79, of Lakewood, NJ. Extraordinarily loving and devoted mother and nana, passed gracefully into the comfort of God's loving arms on Sunday, March 27, 2022 while in hospice care at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers, Florida following a short but brave and heroic fight against complications due to COVID. She was proudly surrounded and embraced by her loving family as she peacefully transitioned to life everlasting. Born Geraldine Marie Longo on January 21, 1943, "Jeri" spent her childhood with her parents, brothers, and extended family on Fitzwater Street in Philadelphia, PA. After her beloved mothers passing, she spent her teen years living with her cousin Gloria and husband Dr. Nicolas Formica in Ventnor, NJ. During this difficult time, she welcomed and enjoyed new friends, graduated from Holy Spirit High School and created relationships that would last her entire life. She graduated from Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA. with a B.A. in Comprehensive English. In 1994 she received her M.A. in Urban Education from New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ. and held certification as Supervisor of Instruction and Principal. Jeri had a passion and gift for teaching. She began her teaching career at Woodrow Wilson High School, Camden, NJ, where she taught tenth and eleventh grade English. After rearing her children, she resumed her teaching career in Pennsylvania at the Pottstown School District, where she taught high school English for seven years. In 1984 she accepted a position of seventh grade language arts teacher at Toms River Intermediate East School. As a self employed consultant/trainer in conflict management/resolution she was responsible for staff development and implementation of peer mediation programs at the intermediate and high school levels in the Toms River School District. Jeri worked with classes of all abilities and believed that with teacher understanding and empathy for the many needs of adolescents, students would respond positively and be willing to take risks in academic settings that would ultimately develop their critical reading and language skills. She taught students not to be threatened by differences but to appreciate, respect, and most importantly, learn from them. After an exemplary career spanning over 30 years, while excited to retire, it quickly became clear she was not about to slow down. She was by far the busiest of all retired people. As a professor at both Georgian Court College and Ocean County College she felt it a privilege and honor being a mentor for first year teachers and a cooperating teacher for education students. She was an active member of NJEA, Honor Society for Women Educators, and Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, Zeta Chapter for over 20 years holding various office positions including President, Vice President and most recently co-chairing the search committee for the 2022 – 2023 Chapter President. In her spare time she enjoyed yoga and practicing mindfulness, listening to music - everything from Eminem's Lose Yourself to Puccini's La Boehm, golfing, shopping, painting, drawing, gardening, enjoying a good meal with a delightful glass of wine, attending the theater, spending time by the ocean, and traveling all over the world. She was actively involved in several clubs including Book, Movie, Mahjong, Bridge, Poker, Sangha, and The Power of 8. She authored countless articles for her community newsletter on golf events, field trips, and various activities. She was brilliant, smart, strong, creative, trustworthy, wise, funny, kind, forgiving, apologetic, and humble; she liked to believe she was perfectly imperfect; she connected with everyone and loved without expectation or judgement; she enjoyed helping others and always managed to make each person feel loved and important. Above all, Jeri loved, cherished, and adored her children and was so proud of her grandchildren and all their accomplishments and future dreams. She had looked forward to her annual fall school shopping trips and golf outings with her grandsons; her Nana Day Care and co-parenting responsibilities with her mini-me granddaughter; spending countless late nights on the phone with each of them at one time or another working on reports that were due the next day; and vacationing with them in South Bethany Beach or far away destinations. She was devoted to her faith, believed in the healing power of prayer and that God would always lead. She enjoyed laughing and being with her family during the holidays. Thanksgiving was a favorite time of year and she enjoyed hosting it for over 45 years in her home. As the family matriarch, she took pride in leading the champagne toast that connected us all together with her words of love, thanks, and gratitude. She believed that life should be celebrated and that a stained rug was a sign of a house full of fun, love and excitement. Memories of Jeri will long be cherished, remembered, and repeatedly shared by her family; she will be forever and warmly remembered by those who knew her as a loving mother, a joyful nana, caring sister, in-law, aunt, cousin, godmother, spouse, and friend. Her life's work and legacy will be shared with all future family and friends so they will know that an amazing individual lived, graced this earth, added her own splash of magic and made the world a better place. Jeri was predeceased by her parents, Lawrence A. and Jennifer "Jennie" Longo, her brother Joseph F. Longo, in-laws Walter Carroll and Veronica "Verna" Hadley, loving cousin Gloria M. Formica, and precious nephew, Philip A. Longo. Jeri is survived by her daughter Michele Hadley Schweers and husband Roger, Toms River, NJ and Peter Carroll Hadley, Jr. and wife Judé Ellen, Frankfort, Germany; adoring grandchildren Peter Carroll Hadley, III, Brick, NJ, John "Jack" Paul Hadley, Denton, TX, and Bethany Ann Schweers, Toms River, NJ. She is also survived by her devoted brother Lawrence S. Longo and wife Sandra, Newtown, PA; sister-in-law Cass Longo, Malvern, PA; loving "niece daughter", Nicole Longo and husband Mark Marcille, Metuchen, NJ; nieces Susan Longo Foltz, Janet Promesso, Jill Promesso, and Julie France; nephews Joseph Longo, Michael Longo, and Lawrence P. Longo: great nephews Vincent Tummarello and Phil Marcille; great niece Alexandra Longo; former spouse Peter Carroll Hadley, Sr. and wife Annette, Boynton Beach, FL.; many loving cousins who brought her much laughter, joy and on occasion medical guidance; and countless amazing, sincere, loyal, and loving friends everyone should be so fortunate to have in their lives. A Mass of Christian Burial for Geraldine "Jeri" Hadley will be celebrated on Monday, May 2, 2022, 10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, 685 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ. We encourage family and friends to use masking protocol based on their personal level of comfort. In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial/tribute donation in Jeri's name to Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity via www.northernoceanhabitat.org or to JBJ Soul Kitchen Community Restaurant in Toms River via www.jbjsoulkitchen.org. Arrangements are being made by www.gormleyfuneralhomellc.com.