Geraldine Marie O'Day

Geraldine (Jerry) Marie O’Day passed away of natural causes on September 25 in her home in Arlington, VA where she lived for 58 years with the exception of one year at Stewart Air Force Base in Newburgh, NY.

Ms. O’Day was born in Allentown, PA on February 7, 1926, the first born of Anthony Pellettieri and the former Marie Lowery (originally Lauria). She was selected at the age of five for a gifted accelerated program with Allentown public schools and graduated from Allentown High School in 1942. She received her Bachelor of Science, Music Education with a Minor in English from West Chester State Teachers College in 1946, and a Master of Arts, Education from Lehigh University in 1953.

After her undergraduate degree, she taught music and girls physical education in Bucks County, PA, followed by ten years teaching fifth grade with Allentown public schools while earning her Master’s degree. She then sought and received a candidate recommendation from her congressman to teach with the Department of Defense Dependents Schools and continued her career at the Dependents School of the U.S. Army in Karlsruhe, Germany. While teaching in Germany, she met and married then Captain John O’Day and began the life of an Army wife and mother, moving between continents with four children in tow.

Music and dance remained a constant joy in her life. Her singing and (chair) dancing videos on Facebook became a hit with family and friends; her rhythm and full voice were evident well into her 90’s. She sang in the Catholic Choir of Fort Myer, the Georgetown’s Women’s Chorus, and the Washington D.C. Italian Folklore Group. She was the Treasurer of the Northern Virginia Folk Festival Association and the Italian-American Women’s Group. Once her children were grown, she obtained a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Georgetown University and returned to her beloved profession, teaching English to adults in Fairfax County until retirement.

Ms. O’Day was predeceased by her husband, John Joseph O’Day. She is survived by her children John Thomas O’Day, Jerrianne O’Day, Michael O’Day, Colleen O’Day, and granddaughter Kathleen O’Day.

She will be buried with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery. May she continue to sing and dance along, and may her memory be a blessing.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Goodwin Hospice (see link under Donations); or the Alzheimer's Association.