Geraldine (Gerrie) Rihn Rigante

Branchburg, NJ

Gerrie Rigante, of Branchburg, NJ, passed away on Saturday, December 14, 2024, with the love of her family and friends surrounding her. She was a fun loving 86 years old, who was born on June 16, 1938. Gerrie grew up in Pittsburgh, PA., where this October she had the opportunity to visit her childhood home in the neighborhood of Lawrenceville. She took a walk down memory lane where she recounted many fun stories to her daughters, grandson and son in law.

Gerrie was married to her college sweetheart and love of her life for 60 years, until his passing in 2021. Together they have 4 children, 5 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, George and Esther Rihn of Pittsburgh, PA, her husband Mauro Rigante of Plainfield, NJ; and two treasured sisters Lois and Patty. Surviving are her three devoted daughters, Susan Rigante of Branchburg, NJ; Karen and husband Joey Accordino of Aventura, FL; Kathie and husband Scott Boyer of Pennington, NJ; and devoted son Jeff Rigante and wife Diane Meeker Hendricks of Lebanon, NJ, her children Jeremy and Amanda; five cherished grandchildren, Chelsea and husband Chris Comas, Travis and wife Taylor Sutter Rigante, Taylor Rigante, Jack and Michael Boyer; and four adorable great grandchildren, CJ, Charlie Rose, Callie and Lyla. Gerrie leaves behind many adored nieces, nephews and cousins on both sides of her family, as well as her brother-in-law Phil Mannella.

Gerrie graduated from St. Paul's Cathedral High School in Oakland, PA; an all-girls school where she was proud to have formed many lifetime friendships. After graduating, she attended St. Francis College in Loretto, PA. and later began her teaching career at St. Raphael's Catholic School in Pittsburgh. Upon marrying Mauro, they moved to Midway Avenue in Scotch Plains and then to Leland Gardens in Plainfield, NJ where they started their family and established abundant lifelong friendships that they both built and treasured throughout their lives. Gerrie and Mauro resided in our family's beloved North Plainfield for 16 memorable years with their four amazing children. In 1977, 47 years ago, Gerrie and Mauro moved their family to Branchburg, where they continued to add to their treasured collection of friendships. She taught at Children's Corner preschool in Bridgewater. Gerrie had a gift for spending memorable quality time with her grandchildren who adored her, her great grandchildren and all the children she taught. Gerrie was always on the lookout for a new crafty project, dancing and teaching the kids a fun song. To this day, students from her earliest teaching days in Pittsburgh, have kept in touch with her; as she left a lasting impact on many of them.

Gerrie loved good food and especially good bread and butter! She loved her own cooking, always with a little extra salt, mayo, butter and bacon grease, aka love :) Her grandchildren never missed an opportunity for her to make pancakes cooked in bacon grease or a good ham sandwich! There was rarely a time that you weren't offered her infamous Lipton's hot tea with sugar and a fresh squeezed lemon ice cube. Gerrie loved making a home with Mauro. Decorating was a passion and she was excellent at it. Mauro was the perfect, exceptionally talented, companion and loved making sure that all of her (their) visions came to life. Always on the hunt for a good yard sale purchase to bring home for Mauro to refurbish or something seen in the Ethan Allen showroom for him to replicate perfectly and build for their home. However for anyone who knows Gerrie they know what really got her up in the morning was finding out the lines on the footballs games and calling everyone and anyone to find out who they were taking, before noon on Sunday and 8:00 on Monday! On the remaining days of the week it was bingo, bowling, tennis, bridge, poker, casino, ShopRite, Lord and Taylor, shopping sales, lunching with the ladies and date nights with her favorite date, Mauro and many of their friends on Saturday nights. Gerrie was always on the go; that white Cadillac a blur as she rode off to her next activity. Gerrie also loved her beach time, with numerous friends and family at many different beach points over the years. She especially loved our family time in Ocean City, NJ and her personal time in Atlantic City.

Gerrie surrounded herself with friends and family everywhere she went. Even into her 80's she was still making new friends. People loved to be with her and she made friends easily throughout her entire life. Gerrie's friends quickly became beloved extensions to our entire family. She rarely hung up the phone or ended a conversation without saying, "I love you", even if she just met you. Gerrie loved a good joke, loved to laugh, loved to make others laugh. She was crafty, creative, loved her own cooking with a little extra butter, mayo, salt and bacon grease, aka love. She always had a good idea that she would suggest we pursue…the mother of four children that came to her in five years, she was always the great delegator and project manager.

There was a lot of fun in that "dash" for Gerrie. Her friends and family adored her cherub smile and laugh, her jokes, quick wit, high energy, and passion for a good poker game. Gerrie has missed her beloved Mauro tremendously since his passing, and will be celebrating this Christmas in heaven with him, along with the infamous Rihn sisters, favorite family members and friends. There is no question that Gerrie's passing will leave a void in our hearts…she will be missed by all those who were lucky enough to cross her path…we all will treasure our Mom, our Gram, Aunt Gerrie, immensely. If you are ever lucky enough to be like Gerrie and find yourself in a card game with a royal flush, look up to heaven and give her a little wink. She'll be watching and pulling for you, then tell you which card to play next! Gerrie Rihn Rigante, will forever be our Queen of Hearts. In the words of Mom, "...alrighty then!" Until we meet again…xo

"Those who gave us so much to remember can never be forgotten."

"A life well lived, and well loved…"

A memorial service will be held at Branchburg Funeral Home 910 US 202 South Branchburg, NJ 08876 on Friday, January 10, 2025 from 3-7pm. A prayer service will begin at the funeral home at 6:30pm.

Family and friends are to meet at St. Ann's Church in Raritan for Mass on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 11am. Inurnment to follow at St. Bernard Cemetery in Bridgewater, NJ.

Memorial contributions may be made in Gerrie's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.