Obituary of Geraldine A. Sakowski

Geraldine A. (Schuster) Sakowski, A resident of Appleridge Senior Living in Horseheads, NY, died on January 24, 2023. She was 97. Born in Buffalo, NY, she completed her schooling in Western New York, and graduated from Houghton College in 1944, with a BS in Chemistry. Geraldine remained at the college to work as a secretary in the Alumni Association Veterans' Affairs Office, and met her future husband Edward Sakowski at the campus after he returned from military service in Japan. He finished his degree studies at Houghton, and they were married in 1949. They started a family, and professional career moves relocated them to several towns in New York throughout their 66-year marriage – including Orchard Park, Salamanca, Lyndonville, Attica, Springville, Caneadea, East Aurora, and Hamburg. Upon retirement, they moved to Horseheads in 2011. Geraldine was the quintessential homemaker, mother and hostess. In the 1950s she was also a den mother with the Cub Scouts and was active with the Brownies and Girl Scouts. Geraldine returned to college in the 1960s to become a reading specialist teacher. She taught at Pioneer Central School and was a member of the Wyoming County and New York State Teachers Associations. She was a member of the Orchard Park Wesleyan Church, was Missions Coordinator for the Wesleyan Native American Ministries, was a past Regional Co-chairman of American Field Service, and was a reader for the Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service. She also volunteered at Millard Fillmore and Medina Hospitals. An unabashed punster, wordsmith and prolific poet, Geraldine's quick wit and humor were her trademark. Survivors include her two sons Mark (Eunice) Sakowski, Jonathan (Nancy) Sakowski, her daughter Janine Witte, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Private funeral service and interment are under the direction of Barber Funeral Home – Horseheads, NY. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Houghton University, Samaritan's Purse, or Mercy Ships.