Obituary of Helen Marie Geiger

Helen Marie Geiger passed away peacefully in her sleep, at her home in Waterford, Michigan on January 23, 2021 at the age of 94. Helen is survived by her children: Laura Geiger, Teresa Awad, Tim Geiger (Judy Witzman-Geiger.) Brothers-in-law Charles Geiger, and James Geiger (Betty Geiger.) Grandchildren: Elijah Geiger, Leonna Hale (Kevin Hale,) Natacha Fahey (Jim Letz,) Jenna Awad (Nick Nordstrom,) and Kate Geiger (Gabe Masek.) Great grandchildren: Dominic, Brennan, and Jett Hale, and Viola and Leonardo Letz, and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years Richard Geiger, sisters, Gertrude Lawson (Bill Lawson), Joann Quinn (Bernard Quinn), and Ann Huizenga (Gerald Huizenga), brothers-in-law Bill Geiger, and Bob Geiger, and sister-in-law Frances Geiger. Helen was born on April 27th, 1926 in Cushing, Oklahoma to William and Winifred (nee Ryan) Powers. William moved the family to the Powers family farm in Emmett, Michigan and shortly after to Flint in 1930 in search of employment. She married Richard Geiger on December 27th, 1947 at St Michaels Catholic Church. They lived in Flint and raised their family there until retiring permanently to their summer home on Secord Lake in Gladwin. Helen and Richard made Waterford their final home to be closer to family who could care for them. Helen graduated from Flint Central High School and went to work for Century Coin. Once her children were all in school, she worked as a Teachers Aide at Homedale Elementary School while taking classes at Mott Community College, where she earned an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education. Having lost both parents early in their lives, the Powers sisters became a force of nature under the motherly influence of their eldest sister Gertrude. Maintaining strong family ties was important and the sisters regular reunions with each of their large families created close bonds among the 18 cousins throughout the decades. Helen loved playing Bridge, quilting, reading, traveling and spending time with her family and friends, including at Higgins Lake, where the Powers sisters had been getting together nearly every year for over 60 years. Helen and Richard spent 23 happy years at their winter home in Palm Village in Bradenton, Florida, where they attracted an entire community of friends and relatives who also bought homes in the park. Amongst this close-knit group, parties to celebrate holidays like St. Patricks Day, and picnics at the beach were frequent and legendary. Helen loved the soft Florida air, the theater and museums of Sarasota, and a fresh grouper sandwich and cold beer outside next to the Intercoastal Waterway at Cortez Kitchen. A memorial mass service will be held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church 2415 Bagley St, Flint, MI 48504, Michigan on Friday, May 21st, 2021 at 11:00am. Visitation begins at 10:30am. (This is a revised date and location) Friends and family will be invited to gather and remember Helen immediately following the mass at an open-air venue, details TBD. Helens cremated remains will be interred with Richards at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly. The family would like to thank Sammy and Curt and everyone at The Medical Team Hospice, and the Medical Team at Lockwood of Waterford, for their kindness and care throughout the past year. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest donating to Whaley Childrens Center of Flint www.whaleychildren.org in "Memory of Helen Geiger." Feel welcome to plant a tree if you would like, but this is a generic request by the Cremation Society of Michigan and has nothing to do with Helens wishes.