We Will Remember

Geraldine Patricia
Kelly Iwaniszek Steele

23 February 1927
to
22 May 2009

Daughter
Sister
Wife
Mother
Grandmother
Great-Grandmother

Preceded in Death by her Parents Samuel Asbury Kelly and Bessie Mai Kelly; Brothers Michael Kelly, Curtis Denton, and Raymond Denton; and Son Samuel Stephen.

Geraldine is survived by her Sons John Richard Iwaniszek and Matthew James Iwaniszek, her Daughter Elizabeth Anne Iwaniszek Richmond Wells, and Step-Son Steve Steele.

In addition to the children Geraldine bore, she accepted into her fold Peggy, Susan, and Kathy Hisey, Jim Long, Her brother Raymond Denton’s surviving children: Charles, Karl, Sandra, and Steven.

Her Daughter-In-Laws Susan Adams (John) and Opal (Matthew), and Son-n-Law David (Elizabeth) were a source of great satisfaction for the contentment of her children.

Geraldine was a passionate believer in the existence and example of The Christ, Jesus, of the Christian Bible. She strived, though often fell short, to live her life in the way she believed Jesus prescribed. The scripture she quoted the most, either in song or her own hand were The Lord’s Prayer and Corinthians 13.

She often sang The Lord’s Prayer in church choir:

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

…And while the Lord’s Prayer defined her posture and faith in Christianity, she found that the following from Corinthians 13 defined her motivation to nurture, shelter, and clothe the many people who found themselves in her care:

¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

⁴Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

⁷Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all thing

Geraldine’s Message to Her Loved Ones

“Words of advice to my loved ones:

Hate no one, you can hate actions, life-style, etc, but not the person; he or she is a child of God even as you and I are.

Never go to bed angry. If you want to continue an argument, postpone it ‘til tomorrow, but love each other all night.

Reach your hand out (as you are able to do so) to the poor and the needy as Our Savior taught us to do when the opportunity presents itself for if you don’t the chance may never come again and you will regret it the rest of your life.

Take care of the land and god’s creatures.

Don’t be afraid to love people as this costs nothing to you but is priceless to the recipient.

When you leave, leave it in better shape than you found it.

Continue to love one another and when you think of me, think of the happy and funny times.

I love you all.”

- Geraldine Steele 20 April 2009