Geraldine Phillips Korenek passed on Thursday, May 31, 2024, in Baytown, Texas. Born October 22, 1923, to Cecil & Gentry Hall Phillips in Ash Flat, Arkansas, Geraldine grew up in Ash Flat and Seminole, Oklahoma and graduated there from High School. She moved to Houston and worked for Humble Oil in downtown for 9 years. She met & married the love of her life for 54 years, Alfred John Korenek of Freyburg, Texas. Together, they had 3 children, sadly losing their second daughter at an early age. Their other two children, Karen & Lowell were given the best, loving family life any kids could hope for.
She had an early passion for singing and trained in operatic voice for a time. She was active in the Methodist Church and loved singing in the choir. She even did some composing and sang many solos. She worked several years as Church Secretary at Glenbrook United Methodist Church in Houston. She enjoyed family camping & gatherings, gardening, sewing, playing piano, playing golf, dominos, bridge, and cooking. She moved to Baytown in June 2001, after losing her home to flooding in Houston during Tropical Storm Allison.
In 100 years, she saw the great changes of the 20th Century and almost ¼ of the 21st Century. Reflecting her strong Christian faith, Geraldine was patient and kind-hearted to all. Everyone who met her called her “the sweetest lady”. She always cared and asked about your well-being, even when hers wasn’t so good. She rarely complained. She struggled with Parkinson’s for more than 25 years. The family was blessed to have some very devoted caretakers during the last 10 years of her life who she loved. Loving appreciation for Sylvia Perez, Wendy Pierre, Diah Rougier, Claribel Antoine, Sheri Grant, Cynthia Moreno, Josh Copeland and others who helped make her last years the best they could be. Thanks also to her church family at St. Mark’s Methodist for all the visits, cards, flowers, and prayers through the years and for making her 100th birthday extra special with a choir visit. She is singing with the angels now.
Geraldine is preceded in death by husband, Alfred John Korenek and daughter, Janice Ann Korenek. Parents Cecil Phillips, Sr & Gentry Hall Phillips, and brother, Cecil Phillips, Jr.
She is survived by her daughter Karen Korenek Knight & husband Steve Knight, son Lowell John Korenek & wife, Carrie. Granddaughters Lindsay Knight Tijerina & husband John Tijerina, Jr. , Jami Knight Meadows & husband, Bryan Meadows. Grandsons Stephen Korenek & wife, Danika and Ryan Korenek. 6 Great Grandchildren Kash & Karson Tijerina, Braxton & Bailey Meadows, Paxton & Preston Korenek and Step-Grandchildren Charity Luan and Craig Canepa, Kylie Tijerina and 2 Step-Great-Great Grandchildren, Nicholas Luan & Ava Silva and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 6 at Navarre Funeral Home, 2444 Rollingwood Dr., Baytown, Tx. Visitation/Lunch will be from 11am - 12:30 at the funeral home. Services will begin at 12:30pm in the chapel. Burial will be after the service at Earthman Memory Gardens, 8624 Garth Rd., Baytown, Tx.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Mark’s Methodist Church, Baytown, Sterling Municipal Library, St. Jude’s Hospital or Shriner’s Children’s Texas at donate.lovetotherescue.org.
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