Geraldine Marie Rix

On November 28, 1935, Geraldine Marie Martin was born and on June 16, 2026, passed away peacefully in her home. Within that time, she created a life that was intentional to be welcomed by God in heaven and to greatly impact the lives of others along the way.

Geraldine (Gerry) was born to John Martin and Genevieve Martin as the seventh of nine children. The only girl in this strong Irish Catholic family, she is survived by two brothers, Berney (Anne) and Thomas (Sylvia). All other brothers so dear to Gerry were James (Rose), Jack (Mary), Ed (Barbara), Bill (Joyce), Larry, and Ray.

Gerry attended St. Dorothy’s Elementary School and graduated from Academy of Our Lady on the south side of Chicago. She went on to attend DePaul University before shifting gears to enter the corporate workforce in downtown Chicago.

In the summer of 1961, Gerry visited Michigan with a girlfriend and through a family friend met Jim Rix of Mattawan. Within just a few months, they were engaged to be married and did so in May of 1962. In June of 1963, they welcomed their firstborn, Timothy. Within the next five years, three daughters were also born – Thresa (David Howe), Tamara (Peter Davis), and Nancy (Rob Loftis). Throughout those years, Jim and Gerry together built their family home in Mattawan, where they lived throughout the remainder of Gerry’s life.

A devoted Catholic, Gerry attended St. John Bosco Church in Mattawan throughout her entire married life. She held several volunteer roles and raised her children within the church, so important within her spiritual life.

After all children entered school, Gerry went back into the work world, holding executive support roles within various organizations. She proudly worked for and retired from FEMA Corporation in Portage in 1994.

In addition to raising her kids, regularly volunteering at church, and working outside the home, Gerry was passionate about gardening as well as the arts, including piano, sewing, and quilting. She made several dear friends through quilting, and her amazing work still fills her home as well as those of her children. Additionally, in their retirement years, Gerry and Jim traveled throughout the United States, enjoying time together and with friends.

Before Gerry’s passing, she and Jim were blessed with eleven grandchildren and great grandchildren – Jennifer (Lee) McChesney, Jessica Howe, Haleigh (Drew) Blaszkowski, Kaitlyn Loftis, Emily Davis, Piper Davis, Maggie Rix, Jimmy Rix, Devlyn McChesney, Regan McChesney, and Bodhi Loftis.

We will greatly miss Gerry as a mom, grandma, and friend. Family and friends are invited to a memorial mass service at St. John Bosco Church in Mattawan, to begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 25,2026. A luncheon will be served following in the church hall. A private burial will be held at Maple Grove Cemetery in Mattawan.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Mattawan Wildpaks, Mattawan Area Food Pantry, or Centrica Care Navigators (formerly known as Hospice of Southwest Michigan).

“Therefore, we continue to be confident. We know that while we dwell in the body, we are away from the Lord. We walk by faith, not by sight. I repeat, we are full of confidence and would much rather be away from the body and be at home with the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verses 6-8.