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In Memory

Joan Kilmer (Geirnaert) - Class Of 1949 VIEW PROFILE

Joan Kilmer (Geirnaert)

Phyllis Joan Geirnaert

South Bend - Phyllis Joan Geirnaert passed away Monday, October 4, 2021 in Healthwin Specialized Care at the age of 90. Joan was an only child born July 7, 1931 in Rochester, IN. to the late Robert Kilmer and Mary Ruth (Drudge) Kilmer.

She married the love of her life, Marcel Cyrill Geirnaert on February 11, 1950 at Sacred Heart Church in South Bend, IN. They were married 53 years before his passing in 2003.

Joan Graduated from Washington High School in 1949. She raised two children. The late Cynthia Mumaw at 49 and the late Joseph Geirnaert at 64. She had a miscarriage in between the two. Loosing all of her family was very hard on her.

Joan enjoyed her flip-flops and camping all of her life and caught a fish or two now and then. She enjoyed traveling around the United States and Hawaii. She spent many winters in Florida overlooking the ocean in Panama City Beach, Florida. She enjoyed meeting with old classmates for lunch once a month. She went to Notre Dame women's basketball games with the girls for years and played cards with them once a week. She was an avid sports fan and loved her old dog, Polly.

Joan belonged to St. Stanislaus Kostka senior group, Golden Cluster senior group and was past president of the National Association of letter Carriers Auxiliary. Joan was a member of St. John the Baptist Church. She worked for years at McGregor's True Value retail store. She retired and later went to work 5 years for Notre Dame Food Service.

Joan is survived by a Daughter-in-law, Pamela Geirnaert; Four Grandchildren, Tina Geirnaert, Brian Geirnaert, Jeff (Kristen) Mumaw, and Jon (Carrie) Mumaw; Great-Grandchildren, the late Dominique Geirnaert, Phillip, Elaina, Hannah Geirnaert, Evan and Alexis Mumaw; Colin and Chase Mumaw; Great-Great-Grandchildren Briella and Abel Geirnaert; and a very special cousin Ann Edgil of Vine Grove, KY.

Joan loved all her family and friends very much and will be missed greatly by all of them. We would like to thank all of her care givers from Hospice for the past 2 years, Memorial Hospital and Healthwin Specialized Care.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00pm, Monday October 11, 2021 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 3526 Saint Johns Way, South Bend. Graveside Services and burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in South Bend. Friends may gather with family from 9:30 am – 11:30 am that morning at Palmer Funeral Homes – Welsheimer Chapel 521 N. William St. South Bend. Friends and Family will go in procession from funeral home to the church for Mass at 11:30 am.

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 3526 Saint Johns Way, South Bend, IN 46628 or Center for Hospice Care 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

A life well lived, now in God's hands.

Posted online on October 08, 2021

10/15/2021  EJS



Click here to see Joan's last Profile entry.