Mary Ellen Geiger

Mary Ellen Geiger Schreiber passed away peacefully and with grace with her daughter Carrie and her long time caregiver and companion Selma at her side on Thursday October 12, 2023 in Boca Raton, Florida. She was 96 years old. She was the daughter of Edward Michael Farrell and Charlotte (Lottie) Farrell (Ignowski). She was preceded in death by her eldest son Gregory, her husband Paul Edward Geiger, MD, and her four siblings, Edward Joseph, Ellen Catherine Kirven (William Kirven, JD), Joseph, and Jimmy Farrell (Virginia). She is survived by her eight children Carolyn Ann Breckner, Paul Martin Geiger, Jeffrey Michael Geiger, Catherine Ann Roberts (Keith), Douglas Farrell Geiger (Marilyn), James Duncan Geiger (Mary), Gary Jon Geiger (Theresa), and Franz August Geiger (Heather); and her 22 grandchildren and innumerable great grandchildren.

Mary Ellen Geiger Schreiber, fondly known by her grandchildren and great grandchildren as Mimi, was a woman of great mental and physical fortitude that typified an era of women that unfortunately has drawn to a close. Her life began humbly in Passaic, New Jersey in 1927. She was born at just under three pounds to her single mother Lottie who was widowed in her first trimester. She had three older siblings growing up, Ellen, Joseph, and Jimmy, another brother Edward who passed away shortly after birth, and they endured the austere times of the Great Depression. In East Rutherford, NJ, she was raised in a Polish and Irish community until her family moved to Chicago while she was still in elementary school. Her mother cooked meals for American Airlines and the kids all did odd jobs to make ends meet. Early on the importance of a good education, a solid faith in God, and the strength of family was impressed upon the kids and they all attended parochial schools through high school. While they lived a spartan existence in Chicago, their experiences were rich. Mimi loved to tell stories about her days at Douglas Park where she would play basketball against the boys and skip rope with her girlfriends doing “double dutch” on the playground.

After finishing high school, Mimi graduated from Oak Park School of Nursing and worked in the Chicago area for several years. She was the first in her family to work in health care and was certainly an inspiration for her daughters and many after them to pursue a career as health care professionals. While working as a nurse in the Chicago area, she met her husband Paul who was interning at Cook County Hospital as a general surgeon. Their meeting was a love story worthy of a movie. While visiting a dance club one evening, Mimi asked Paul to stand at her side to ward off unwanted advances from another suitor. In return, Mimi granted Paul another “date” and it was clear they were smitten with each other. After just eight weeks he proposed and they were married, a marriage that lasted nearly 40 years. Mimi was a beautiful and talented and spirited woman, attributes not lost on Paul. She loved being the center of attention and she immediately became the center of Paul’s attention. The next chapter of her life was about to begin.

She and Paul settled in Toledo, Ohio where at one point she had five children less than five years of age. The early years were lean and while Paul worked tirelessly as a young general surgeon at Mercy Hospital while Mimi ran a tight ship at home. She would march all of her nicely dressed children on Sunday to the front pew of Gesu Church, many times by herself while her husband was finishing his rounds at the hospital. She was actively involved in her children’s lives and activities outside of school. She was president of the Grove Patterson PTO, deeply involved with the Medical Auxiliary of the Academy of Medicine in Toledo, and numerous other organizations. She also was part of a regular bridge card playing club. She did all this while attending to the demands of raising 9 children.

Mimi passed her athleticism on to her children and they all played sports through high school and beyond. Tennis became the family sport and she played regularly at Sylvania Country Club and The Toledo Tennis Club. Her passion for tennis that she instilled in her children culminated in a Toledo Blade article highlighting the entire family’s tennis accomplishments. Tennis wasn’t the only game however. She was also a huge sports fan, you could say the original “sports babe”, who knew every player and coach from college to the pros. Her two favorite athletes were Pete Rose and Jimmy Connors, both who embody many of her same characteristics: charismatic, proud, smart, gritty, loyal, and classy. Mimi enjoyed people of strong character and a good moral code which resulted in many wonderful personal and family friends over the years. She also had a knack for making you feel real big or real small with just a few poignant words. With Mimi, you always knew the score.

In addition to her athletic prowess, Mimi was a great fan of musicals and the artists of her time: Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Eydie Gorme to name a few. She was an excellent singer herself who sang at home in the kitchen regularly and she loved to dance, a talent we really came to appreciate throughout the years at weddings and similar events.

When her husband Paul was taken from her much too soon, Mimi spent over 20 years on her own watching her children establish families of their own, and then enjoyed her 22 grandchildren. She also began spending winters in south Florida at the urging of her dear lifelong friend Rosie Barone. At the tender age of 84, she met the next love of her life, Dr. James Schreiber who lived in her same building at the time. His interest in the arts and literature captivated Mimi and a year later they decided to spend the rest of their lives together and were married in Toledo.

The snowbird winters in Florida soon became full time in Boca Raton. They were a beacon that drew their children and grandchildren to Florida each year, creating many memories along the way. While the years were good to them, the years also took a toll on each of them individually. While Mimi endured the Great Depression, World War II, the tumultuous 60’s and 70’s and finally the Covid pandemic, her last year of life was the most challenging from a health standpoint. Her family found great comfort in the compassionate care that Selma and her phenomenal team provided to Mimi, especially in her last weeks. They facilitated Mimi leaving this world as only angels would do, with dignity, grace, and peace. For this, we are forever grateful.

Family and friends may visit October 19, 2023 4-7pm at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W Sylvania Ave Toledo, OH 43623. The Funeral Mass will be October 20, 2023 at 10am in Gesu Catholic Church, 2049 Parkside Blvd Toledo, OH 43607. Memorial donations should be sent to Mercy St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation or Gesu Catholic Church.