Gerry Rao's Obituary
Gerry Rao passed away Saturday August 14, 2021. Beloved wife of Tom for 57 years. Loving mother of Peter, Tommy (Angela) and Mary (Jay) Fetterman. Sister of Barbara Landree and Theodore Chrzanowski. Dear Grandmother of Nathan and Bryan Rao, Hanna, Jay and Tommy Fetterman. Gerry, daughter of first generation Polish immigrants, was born in Niagara Falls, New York and resided there until she was married. She attended Erie County Technical Institute and was a Medical Secretary when she graduated. She met her husband, Tom, when she 16, through her high school sorority. They were married in 1964 after Tom graduated from Notre Dame University and moved to Clarksburg, West Virginia where their first son, Peter, was born. They spent several years in Columbia Tennessee where their children, Tommy and Mary were born, and relocated to their hometown of Niagara Falls for several years before they settled in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Gerry was an avid cook and she enjoyed sharing her passion with family and friends. The kitchen was her domain and she was always in charge there - whether she was cooking or managing others cooking. She was the first to make a meal for someone in need, generously sharing her creations. She learned to cook many of the family recipes from Tom’s Italian family, and even authored a small cookbook which she has shared with family and friends. She loved to travel with her husband and family. One of her favorite trips was to Europe where she and her husband visited Eastern Europe and her homeland of Poland. In her later years, Gerry also enjoyed playing golf with her husband and friends. You can find many of Gerry’s recipes online at GerryRao.com (https://gerryrao.com/). VISITATION SUNDAY SEPETMBER 12th 2-4pm at JARDINE FUNERAL HOME 15822 PEARL RD. STRONGSVILLE. FUNERAL MASS MONDAY 11am SEPTEMBER 13th at ST. COLLETTE’S CATHOLIC CHURCH 330 W. 130th ST. BRUNSWICK. It was Gerry’s wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of charitable donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place • Memphis, TN 38105.
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