Carol Eileen Umbach Geerken of Sterling Forest, NY passed peacefully away on September 5, 2020 after a valiant 9 year battle fighting ovarian and lung cancer. She was a walking miracle with the challenges she had faced and overcome; she was 74 years old when the Lord called her home.
Born in Cobleskill, NY, on December 2, 1945 Carol was the daughter of Jennie Kiewlicz and Ernest Umbach. She attended State University of NY at Cobleskill and graduated with a bachelors degree and went on to teach elementary school for a few years. She married her childhood sweetheart Richard George Frederick Geerken and they were blessed to have been happily married for over 40 years before his passing. She is predeceased by her mother Jennie Kiewlicz, her father Ernest Umbach and her brother Jack E. Umbach.
She is survived by her four daughters: Tanya Mattson of Erie, PA, Michelle Whitlock and her husband, Darryl their children Mckenzie and Cameron of Carrollton, TX, Nicole Aptekarev and her husband Arkady and their children Trinity, Annabelle, Hayley and Noah of Sterling Forest, NY, and Corinne Hart and her son Evan of Enfield, CT; and her sister Barbara Umbach Mueller and her husband Hans of Wilmington, Ohio.
Carol was an avid crafter of all things and was extremely creative. Whether she was teaching basket classes to her local community or teaching her children and grandchildren how to sew, her talent was evident to all who knew and loved her. Her artistic endeavors included knitting, ceramic doll making, sewing, crocheting, needlepoint, basket weaving, quilting, watercolor painting, gardening and most recently she sewed 100's of masks for donation to her community.
Carol also affectionately known as Gigi to her grandchildren, was a master Lego builder who loved playing games with her children and grandchildren, especially Taboo. She was recently taught how to play blackjack which caused much laughter, and she put her chips all in at the end, in the very same way she lived her life. Her daughter Tanya's favorite quote for her mother is by Dr. Seuss "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world." All daughters share in the wonderful memory of a Disney vacation that was taken by the entire family, and Corinne shares she loved taking her mom to Stormville Flea market and their annual pumpkin picking tradition.
The words she will be most known for is her reply to anyone saying "I love you," she would always reply "I love you more."
In order to honor Carol’s wishes, cremation and arrangements were private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society.
