MENDOTA - Geraldine Margaret “Geri” Sondgeroth, 85, of Mendota, passed away April 1, 2021 at Heritage Health, Mendota after a long illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 6 at Holy Cross Church, Mendota with Father Peter Pilon officiating. The Mass will be live-streamed via Zoom at www.mendotacatholic.org. Burial will follow the Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery, Mendota. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, April 5 at the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota. Masks are required and social distancing is recommended.

Pallbearers will be Kyle Sondgeroth, Carl Gustafson, Craig Sondgeroth, Eric Kelsey, Kurt Wright, Mark Stouffer and Daniel Ladd.

Geri was born Nov. 22, 1935 in Mendota to Joseph Anton Funfsinn and Margaret Louise (Yost) Funfsinn. She married Clifford Louis “Cliff” Sondgeroth on June 20, 1953 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Peterstown. He preceded her in death on Jan. 22, 2021. 

Survivors include one son, Steven (Kathleen) Sondgeroth of Peru; two daughters, Michelle (Steven) Stouffer of LaMoille and Jane (Jeffrey) Berman of Buffalo Grove; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Katherine (Leonard) Funfsinn of Mendota; and one brother-in-law, David (JoAnne) Sondgeroth of Mendota.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, her parents and two, brothers Leo Funfsinn and Leonard Funfsinn.

Geri graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul School in Peterstown and from Mendota High School in 1953. Like many farm girls of the era, she married shortly after high school and started her married life with her soulmate, Cliff. They worked and raised their children south of Arlington on the first farm they purchased. Geri was a devoted and skilled farm wife, handling domestic chores and child-raising, as well as working alongside Cliff to raise crops and livestock. She was a valued member of her community. She served on the school board of LaMoille Community Unit School District, was a 4-H leader and a member of the quilting club and Altar Society of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Arlington, where she and Cliff were active church members. Geri worked during the 1970s and 1980s as a payroll administrator for the JC Penney store in downtown LaSalle and the Peru Mall. In later years, the couple spent their winters in Ft. Myers Beach, Fla. enjoying sunsets and fond friendships with fellow snowbirds. In 1985, they moved from the Arlington farm to Mendota for their retirement years and joined Holy Cross Church in Mendota. Geri waged a long but successful battle against cancer starting in 1991. Surpassing all her other roles and accomplishments, her children agree that she was the best of mothers, always providing sound counsel and steady guidance with loving kindness.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Geri’s name may be directed to Holy Cross Church or the donor’s choice. Online condolences to the family may be left at www.merrittfh.com.