Kathleen R. Gerety

Atkinson, NH: Kathleen R. (Herridge) Gerety, 95, a resident of Atkinson for the past twenty years, died Friday, March 30, 2012 in the rehabilitation unit of Penacook Place in Haverhill.
Born in Channel- Port-Aux-Basques, Newfoundland, daughter of the late George and Lily Ann (Crewe) Herridge, she was educated in the local school system and began serving as the organist of her family church at the age of fourteen. She later received her Registered Nursing training from the Glace Bay General Hospital School of Nursing in Nova Scotia.

Married as a young woman to a career Army Master Sergeant, Mrs. Gerety, as an Army wife, lived with her late husband at various Army bases in Germany and across the United States. She later settled in the North Shore area of Massachusetts with her family and was employed for many years as a Registered Cardiac Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit of the Saugus General Hospital.
A former resident of Salem and Plaistow, NH before moving to Atkinson in 1991, Mrs. Gerety enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and playing the piano. Even at her advanced age, she still maintained a lively interest in politics and current events. She was a published poet and received The International Poet of Merit Award from the International Society of Poets in August of 2001.

The wife of the late U.S.Army Master Sgt. (Ret.) William  Gerety, she is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, W. Warren and Patricia Gerety of Plaistow, a son Donald  Gerety of Atkinson and formerly of Arizona, a daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Ed Budzinski of Novato, CA, a sister Edith Farrell of Burlington, Ontario, two granddaughters, Deborah Hoadley and her husband Jon of Plaistow, and Donna Eager and her husband George of Nassau, NY, three great-grandchildren, Rachel Eager, Amanda Eager and Kate Hoadley, an several nieces, nephews and cousins across Canada and the United States. One of nine children Kathleen was recently predeceased by her sister Valetta Winchester on March 26, 2012.

Relatives and friends may call on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 from 12 Noon until 2:45 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Route 121A, Plaistow. Her funeral will follow at 3:15 p.m. at the funeral home with burial immediately following in Plaistow Cemetery. The family requests that memorial donations be made to Penacook Place, 150 Water St., Haverhill, MA, 01830, or to Atkinson Police Charitable Trust Fund, P.O. Box 321, Atkinson, NH 03811.