Geraldine "Jerry" (Card) Parcell

Geraldine (Jerry) Parcell, 102, formerly of East Syracuse, passed away on Thursday, February 18th, 2021 at the Masonic Home in Utica, NY.  Geraldine was born at home in Kirkville on September 1st, 1918 to the late Courtney and Bertha (Krafft) Card. Her family eventually moved to Eastwood.  She attended Eastwood High School, where she would meet her future husband.  After graduation she continued her schooling at Central City Business Institute (CCBI).  She had a career as a medical secretary. She married John Charles Parcell II in 1940 in Syracuse.  He predeceased her in 1983. 

From this marriage she would have one child, John Charles Parcell III, who also predeceased her in 2010. Jerry was an avid athlete, enjoying ice skating, horseback riding, golf, downhill and cross-country skiing, canoeing, and most of all swimming.  She continued to ski into her 70’s and continued to swim laps into her late 80’s.  Even until her time of death she enjoyed walking as much as she could, and would often be seen doing laps around the nursing home with her walker.  She especially loved her red canoe, and spending time at the family camp on Panther Lake swimming and canoeing. Jerry also loved to dance, and loved to tell stories about how her and her sister would put on beautiful gowns and go dancing to The Big Bands at Hotel Syracuse.  Jerry was also a wonderful cook, and a very skilled knitter and seamstress, often making her own clothes.

Jerry is survived by her grandchildren, Janet (Justin) Mitchell, John (Tracy) Parcell IV, and Robert (Marlene) Parcell, all of Canton.  She is also survived by four great-grandchildren who she loved very much, John and Alexis Mitchell and Kaitlyn and Madison Parcell.  She is survived by two nieces and two nephews, who she looked at like her own children—Gladys, Cyndy, Gordon, and Doug Rink.  Jerry is also predeceased by her sister, Gladys Rink (2017), who lived to be 101 years old. Jerry lived a long and beautiful life, often saying “I’ve done everything I’ve ever wanted to do.” Services are private. 

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