Geraldine Marchand
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Geraldine (Geri) Marie (Schroeder) Marchand was born in Tacoma, WA to Max and Josephine Schroeder on September 22, 1931. The youngest of 7 children, Geri enjoyed a loving childhood with 5 sisters and 1 brother. The siblings attended St. Leo's Catholic school and resided in the Tacoma area for the entirety of Geri's youth. Her siblings remained a firm foundation of love and support for the duration of her life.
Geri married the love of her life, George Marchand, on April 26, 1952. George had just joined the Navy and his first post was in Honolulu, HI. While the couple were on the islands, Geri gave birth to their first two children - a daughter, Ellen Marie and a son, Paul Joseph. Upon George's discharge from service the family returned to the mainland where they made their home once again in Tacoma. Another son was born while they lived there, Fred Eugene. In 1957 they moved to Seattle, WA where Edward George and Karen Louise completed the family of now seven.
Geri definitely had her hands full with 5 children under the age of 10. She was a beautiful, dedicated wife and mother, always working to meet the needs of her loved ones. As her children matured, they grew to grasp the depth of sacrifices that were made to raise them, the value of living a moral life, with hard work and dedication both modeled and taught, and with the importance of family always at the heart of life.
1967 brought another change when the family moved to a small farm in Bothell. Geri, who had always been a city girl, quickly adapted to country life. The blueberry farm became her inspiration. Her blueberry muffins, blueberry jam, blueberry syrup, blueberry cobbler, blueberry pie, blueberry oomph, blueberry pancakes, and blueberry wine were second to none. George was a gentleman farmer with four gardens with which Geri produced many, many jars of canned vegetables each year - enough to tide the family over until the next summer.
While she was a stay-at-home mom, she always looked for ways to be involved in her community. Her activities included Scouting - becoming Cub Scout den leader for several years, and then later supporting her sons' troop leader in any way she could, as well as a Brownie leader for Ellen and a Blue Bird leader for Karen. In 1984 she was awarded the St. George Award which is the highest honor the Archdiocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting can bestow on a person who has given dedicated service to help make God a part of a Scout's daily life. Besides scouting she was also PTA president, a candy striper at Providence Hospital in Everett, and for many years volunteered at local voting sites during elections.
Faith in God was central to who Geri was. She was very involved in her parishes, each move the family made brought a new church which she eagerly joined: St. Leo's in Tacoma, St. Catherine's in Seattle, St. Mary Magdalen in Everett, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in South Everett, St. Cecilia's in Stanwood and St. Mary's in Marysville. She became a Eucharistic minister while attending St. Cecilia's and took joy in serving the parish in that manner.
Upon George's passing in 2015 Geri moved into The Vintage apartments in Smokey Point, Marysville and then in 2022 she moved to Field's Senior Living where she resided until she passed on January 2, 2023.
Geri is survived by her children: Ellen (Bruce) McKinney; Paul (Sue) Marchand; Fred (Rebecca) Marchand; Ed (Gayla) Marchand; Karen Lee; Geri's "adopted" daughter, Lauri Eastman; 16 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, George Marchand; her parents; her sisters and brother and their spouses; and her beloved granddaughter, Linnea Lenz.
Services will be held at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, 26900 78th Ave, Stanwood, WA on Friday, January 13. A Rosary will be said at 10:30am, mass will begin at 11:00am with a luncheon reception following. Those who would like to join the family are invited to come to the graveside internment at 2:30pm.