Geraldine Therese BORIL

21 APR 1943 - 2 SEP 2021

• BIRTH: 21 APR 1943, Chicago, Cook, Illinois
• DEATH: 2 SEP 2021, South Bend, St Joseph, IN

• MARRIAGE: 27 AUG 1966

INDEX

[N29485] Geraldine Therese Boril
April 21, 1943 - September 2, 2021

Geraldine Therese Bandera (Boril) was born on April 21, 1943, to the late Alois and Elizabeth (Svec) Boril. She was the youngest of seven on the west side of Chicago. As the baby of the family, she made an early go of motherhood by caring for many of her older sisters’ children. And when attending Loyola University, she met the love of her life, Richard Bandera. She would say it was his smile and his great dance moves that caught her eye first. But we all know that it was his love for God, family, and his Catholic faith that truly drew her in. And so they were joyfully married on August 27, 1966. In the spirit of selfless giving, they joined the Peace Corp and moved to Brazil. Geraldine was a nurse and Richard a teacher. Within the first year, she gave birth to her firstborn Vincent. Loving what God was creating for them, they continued to multiply. Along came Greg, Jeff, Mary, and Julie. After years of traveling from country to country and city to city, they settled down and planted roots on the west side of South Bend, Indiana. Richard, who was so in love with his wife and children, continued in God’s plan and gave Gerry more gifts, Sarah, Peter, Barbara, Elena, and Rebecca. There was also a baby Bandera that God called home before we could meet. Gerry was known by many for her own beautiful smile and joy that she exuded with ease. She had a free spirit and an unselfish desire to help those in need. She gave birth to ten children, but many more called her mom. To help support her family, she would care for many children around the St. Adalbert’s parish. And so their household was one busy, God filled place. All of her children attended St Al’s and all would agree that she was the best model for instilling Catholic faith. Her love could be felt by all, and her generous hospitality made any who entered feel at home As her life on earth came to an end, she was surrounded by the grace and mercy of Christ, and the loving support of ALL her family. Eleven years ago, Richard went home to the Lord and will surely be welcoming her in her homecoming. Also preceding in death are her brother Louis and sisters Elizabeth (Betty) Basta and Mary Colasurdo. Surviving are her sisters Barbara Boril, Josephine Lopez, and Anne Macalik, along with her 10 children(+spouses) Vince, Greg (Blanca), Jeff (Lisa), Mary (Jeff) Lewis, Julie (Stephen)Stewart, Sarah (Matt “Bubba”) Pellico, Peter (Cara), Barbara (Ben) Flis, Elena (Tony) Wildrick, and Rebecca (Omar) Ramos. She lived her life loving the little children so needless to say, her grandchildren were EVERYTHING! She enjoyed them all, Melinda, Allison, Madeline, Brenna, Preston, David, Sheridan, Daniel, Julia, Evelynn, Matthew, James, Sorin, Michael, Kayla, Eden, William, Elora, and Mariah. She will even have some grandchildren waiting to meet her in heaven. Also surviving her are many in-laws, nieces and nephews. A child of God, daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. To know her was to love her. To her, family was everything. And for her, everyone was family. A Visitation for Geraldine will be Tuesday September 7th,2021 from 10:00 am to 2:00pm, at ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 824 S. Mayflower Rd, South Bend, IN 46619. A Mass of Christan Burial will be celebrated at 2:30pm at St. Adalbert Catholic Church, 2505 W Grace St, South Bend, IN 46619. Burial to follow at Saint Joseph Cemetery in South Bend, Indiana. Condolences for the family may be made at www.sjfh.net. This is the prayer that she would have us pray for her: