PIONESSA, Geraldine Frances (Gerry)

Geraldine "Gerry" Frances Pionessa 60, passed away on May 2, 2011 of ovarian cancer in Tucson, AZ. She was born on September 18, 1950 in Buffalo, NY. She is survived by her parents, Bill and Joan Pionessa; siblings, Kathy Pionessa, Don (Eileen) Pionessa, JoAnne Pionessa, Bill (Mary Ellen) Pionessa, Peg Demers, Paul (Denise) Pionessa and Nick (Suzanne) Pionessa; children, Yasmin Wallas, Kenneth Kokroko (Kristina Abril) and Jolene Kokroko and grandson, Emory Kokroko. She also leaves behind a plethora of cousins, nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews in Western, NY and NC, an aunt and uncle, Burnetta and Bob Brown of Merced, CA; ex-husband, Joseph Kokroko and many other loving friends in Tucson as well as pets, Rocket, Maurice, Ashley and Dusty. As a lifelong teacher, Gerry worked in the Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa as an English teacher in Ghana, West Africa and devotedly continued educating children in Chinle and Tucson, AZ. She was the school librarian at Los Niños Elementary in SUSD for the past 18 years; a job she adored. Her passions in life included making lampwork beads, her jewelry business "Charmed, I'm Sure", being a hardcore Bob Dylan fan, reading, and singing to her grandson. Her life will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 14, 2011 at San Pedro Chapel, 5230 E. Fort Lowell Road. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at www.ocrf.org or Peppi's House (TMC Hospice) or play a Bob Dylan album in her memory. Arrangements by HUDGEL'S SWAN FUNERAL HOME.