Geraldine Gonigam

Geraldine Mae (Jerry) Gonigam, 97 of Walnut passed away peacefully Thursday, March 28, 2024 at Allure Nursing Home in Walnut. She was born the daughter of Frank and Bernice Bourquinon May 9, 1926 in Apple River, Illinois, and moved to Walnut shortly after that, where she spent her entire life.

She was a graduate of Walnut High School in 1944 and was employed by the A&P store in Walnut. She married Louis Gonigam III on December 20, 1947 in Walnut. She loved being a farm wife and mother to her two sons.  Jerry and Louie were married almost 70 years before Louis passed away in November of 2017. She was a devout Catholic and active member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Walnut. 

Survivors include two sons: Gary (Lisa) Gonigam of Lake Camelot Illinois, and Greg (Stacy) Gonigam of Walnut, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and one brother Kenny Bourquin of Manlius, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Eldoris White and Betty Sapp, and granddaughter Rebecca Gonigam. 

A private family celebration of life and mass was held at the Catholic Church in Walnut on April 1st followed by the burial at the Walnut cemetery with the Reverend Thomas Shaw officiating.

In lieu of a memorial or flowers, the family requests that you consider performing a random act of kindness for someone in her honor. 

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