Geraldine M. Whittemore

GERALDINE M. WHITTEMORE

Cedar Rapids

Geraldine Marie (Ray) Whittemore was born to Dorthy J. and Gerald L. Ray in Cedar Rapids at St. Luke's Hospital on March 13, 1948. The oldest of 14 children, Geraldine was closest to her eldest siblings, Michael, Tom and Terry.

As a child she spent most of her time outdoors with her siblings playing great games of hide and seek, kick the can and red rover. She loved music and had a beautiful singing voice that earned her a scholarship to college after graduation from CR Washington High School in 1966.

She met Steven L. Whittemore during college and they were married in 1968. Later that year they welcomed a daughter Dawn Heather. Two years later a son was born Steven Winfield, and in 1982 she brought her last child into the family, Tasha Caroline.

Her true passion in life were her children and grandchildren. She loved spending time with them and would do or give anything to help them. Geraldine was blessed with 12 grandchildren, James, Hannah, Stephanie, Danielle, Dehjeh, Isaac, Jack, Cameron, Marcus, Joseph, Gabriel and Abraham.

She enjoyed leisure time listening to classical music, and the greats Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow and The Carpenters. Geraldine was also interested in crime investigation movies and television shows like Law and Order. Her favorite thing to do most of all was soaking up the sun and water on the Gulf of Mexico.

Her greatest achievement in life she would say other than her kids, was 42 years of continuous sobriety. She was free from drugs and alcohol due to the God given program of Alcoholics Anonymous. She began that journey on March 21, 1979, until her death. Being sober was something she cherished and took great pride in knowing that God had relieved her of the fatal obsession.

She went to sit by the right hand side of the Lord Jesus Christ on Friday, May 7, 2021, at 3:53 a.m. surrounded by her three children and brother Mike. A Celebration of Life ceremony with family has been planned in June.