Jeanette Ruth (Christie) Geller of North Chatham passed away peacefully on July 9, 2025, three days before her 95th birthday. Jeanette cherished being a Needham resident for sixty years and spent the last years of her life on Cape Cod; first at a South Yarmouth assisted living residence for nine years and for this last year at a Chatham nursing home.
Born July 12, 1930, Jeanette lived her earliest years in a Dorchester triple-decker with her parents and three siblings. Jeanette was born with a natural gift for music. As a child, Jeanette would listen as her older sister Virginia took piano lessons. After the teacher left, Jeanette would go to the piano and perform the songs she’d just heard, playing solely by memory and ear. Playing piano was a lifelong pastime for Jeanette, and she entertained countless people over the years, right up until her passing. Her gift for music brought her great happiness and enjoyment, and her innate talents would later be passed to several of Jeanette’s children and grandchildren.
Following her graduation from Jeremiah E. Burke High School, Jeanette became a secretary at the Boston Gas Company in Copley Square. She enjoyed working and was proud to be the first one in her family to purchase an automobile with her earnings. It was at Boston Gas that she met her future husband, William Henry Geller Jr., a widower with two small children. Jeanette and Bill married on Valentine’s Day, 1953. Soon after, they settled in Needham where they went on to raise a large family consisting of four sons and six daughters.
Jeanette loved being a mother and homemaker. A natural caregiver, creative, efficient, and organized, Jeanette shared with her children traditional homemaking knowledge such as how to shop and cook efficiently, sew and do needlework, care for plants, and garden. Jeanette inherited much from her parents around the love of the beauty of nature and flowers as well as the practicality of a garden. Each spring, she planted beautiful flowers and a large vegetable garden. The summer harvest would find her pickling cucumbers, preserving rhubarb jam, cooking tomato sauce, baking zucchini bread, or simply sauteing fresh vegetables for dinner. Preparing meals for ten or more was a daily occurrence for Jeanette. She regularly turned out healthy, varied spreads that included at least one home grown vegetable, making the ongoing sustenance of her sizable family appear quick and easy. Holidays were another specialty, with festive décor, delicious meals and annual traditions. She delighted in making Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas special times for her family.
In the early 1970’s, Jeanette worked part-time from home as an “Avon Lady.” In 1978, Jeanette returned to working full-time outside the home, becoming a secretary at Boston University. She started at Sargent College of Health Services, organizing the placement of students on physical therapy field internships. She later transferred to the University’s Study Abroad office, where she coordinated international educational and travel experiences for students. During her ten-year tenure at B.U., Jeanette was able to put five of her children through college, tuition-free through her work benefits. Once her youngest graduated B.U. in 1988, Jeanette retired from B.U. Never one to be idle for long, she returned to work part-time at an accounting firm, where she worked until well into her late seventies.
Jeanette loved quiet activities at home such as reading books as well as the daily paper. She enjoyed watching Sunday morning political news programs and vigorously discussing the issues of the day. Other interests included learning about nutrition, playing Scrabble with friends, watching classic old movies, knitting and stitchery, tending to her houseplants, and of course, listening to music and playing piano.
Raised in the Catholic faith, Jeanette enjoyed being part of several church communities throughout her life, including St. Peter’s Parish in Dorchester, St. Theresa’s in West Roxbury, St. Susanna’s in Dedham, and St. Bartholomew’s in Needham. Jeanette made lifelong friends in all of the places where she lived and worked and was appreciated for her upbeat demeanor and friendly smile. She regularly expressed her warmth and thoughtfulness to friends and neighbors by sending letters, notes, and birthday cards, gifting homemade food, or lending a helping hand when needed. Jeanette had a kind, charitable heart and a gracious nature and loved making a positive difference in the lives of those around her.
Jeanette’s life was not unmarked by tragedy and loss. Her 18-month-old son Carl developed polio in 1955, just before rollout of the vaccine. Carl spent a year in an iron lung at Boston Children’s Hospital, in addition to numerous surgeries and home rehabilitations in the years to follow. Jeanette supported her son through all of his medical treatments and was a strong guiding presence throughout his life. They shared a close bond until Carl’s early passing from cancer at age 45. Jeanette was predeceased by her husband, William Henry Geller, Jr. in 1986; her son, Carl Phillip Geller in 1999, and her stepson William Henry Geller, III in 2023. Jeanette was the last living member of her immediate family, surviving her parents Pauline and Leroy Christie and her three siblings, Virginia, Pauline, and Leroy Jr.
Jeanette is survived by her remaining children, Rick Stoeckel and his wife Connie of Quincy, Constance Carney of South Yarmouth, Eric Geller and his wife Connie of Jacksonville Beach, FL, Gretchen Maciejowski and her husband Jeffrey of Mashpee, Kristina Geller of Randolph, Jill Geller and her husband Chikh Helali of Needham, Laura London of Needham; her daughter-in-law, Betty Geller of Braintree and stepdaughter Jan Geller of Hollidaysburg, PA. She also leaves grandchildren Eric and Ryan Stoeckel, Sophie, Adam, and Henry London, and Kyle Maciejowski, as well as great-grandchildren Eric and David Stoeckel, and Valencia Stoeckel.
Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home 1305 Highland Ave. Needham on Wednesday, July 16th from 4-7pm. Funeral from the funeral home on Thursday, July 17th at 9am, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Church, 1382 Highland Ave. Needham at 10am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment to immediately follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Needham. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Easterseals Massachusetts, 18 Chestnut St., Suite 200, Worcester, MA 01608 to support their Assistive Technology Regional Center in Boston, or online at eastersealsma.org