Geraldine Wilder

Geraldine “Gerry” Wilder, cherished mother, grandmother, and friend, peacefully departed to heaven on December 18, 2025, after a months-long decline in health. She was preceded in death by her husband James “Jim” Wilder, parents Alois John Moczygemba and Regina Sheffler Moczygemba, infant brother Daniel Moczygemba, sisters Jean Niemietz, Helen Titzman, and Dorothy Beamsley, and son-in-law Bill Brouillette. She is survived by four daughters, Karen (Mark) Atwood, Cynthia Wilder, Cheryl (Earl) Battey, and Laura (Jon) Granberry; six grandchildren, Josiah Brouillette, Jeremy (Haley) Brouillette, Jonathan (Priscilla) Atwood, Kristin (Vincent) Tran, Kyle Battey, and Kaleb Battey; four sisters, Mary Ann Watson, Bernice (Richard) Dube, Margaret Gambill, and Martha (Robert) Garcia; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Geraldine was born on April 18, 1939, in McCook, Texas, where her family was a founding member of the Immaculate Conception Church. She spent her youth in McCook and Edinburg, and graduated from Edinburg High School as a member of the National Honor Society and the Tennis Team in 1956. She married Jim, a high school math teacher and the love of her life, in 1961, and resided in Weslaco, Texas. Jim’s job opportunities took them to Houston and Corpus Christi before they settled in Portland, Texas in 1966. She lived in their house on Diomede Drive from 1966 to 2025.

She had a long career with Whitney-Vaky Insurance Company, but said, “the most important job/goal/position in life was to be the best wife and mother I can be.”

Gerry doted on her family and actively supported their interests. Her husband’s life-long passion for technology and computers had her accompanying him to computer shows and rummage sales to find whatever interested him at the time. For her daughters, she supported any activities in which they were interested: Girl Scouts, Bluebirds (Leader), twirling, softball, swimming, basketball, soccer, choir, band, and many others that were short lived. She attended almost every game, ceremony, competition, concert, and event for all of her girls. Although her favorite sport was tennis, she attended Friday night football games when her daughters were in the marching band’s halftime show. When she was promoted to Grandmother, she put just as much energy into following their activities, creating memories, and making holidays special. She would always have a card in the mail to each grandchild to arrive in perfect timing for a birthday or holiday. Easter would be celebrated with hundreds of eggs hidden in her beautiful garden, and for Christmas, she would hand-pick an ornament for each grandchild, unique to them that year. They all looked forward to aquarium visits with her in the summer. All these and more became cherished memories. She maintained a close relationship with her sisters, particularly with their annual “sister reunion”. They shared days full of laughter, project show-and-tells, shared memories, birthday celebrations, and family news updates.

She was a devout Catholic, committed member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, and believed strongly in volunteer service. Over the years she served in a variety of roles at the church: Parish Secretary, CCD Administrator, RCIA Coordinator, and Eucharistic Minister, including visits to the homes of members who could not attend mass. She was an active member of Catholic Daughters and dedicated many hours preparing for their fundraising rummage sales. For several years, she “volunteered” her husband Jim and some of his computers to the sales. Until her health declined, she volunteered each week in the church’s food pantry and participated in the church’s Adoration Chapel, in which members of the church have held an almost continuous prayer vigil for 30 years.

Through Catholic Daughters, church activities, the Diomede/Westcliff neighborhood, her job, and community activities, Gerry enjoyed spending time with old friends and making new ones. She embodied her favorite quote from Mother Theresa, “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one come to you without leaving happier.” Her special friends were the “Chicks” who gathered once a month to play Chickenfoot dominoes. There were occasional skirmishes with a men’s domino group for the event room at the local Dairy Queen. However, the “Chicks” always prevailed through superior tactical planning (reservations).

Her personal time was spent gardening in her beautiful backyard, bird watching, quilting and scrapbooking. She also did extensive genealogy research exploring her Polish heritage.

Visitation will be held at Winsteads’ Funeral Home in Portland, Texas, on December 29, 2025, starting at 6:00 PM, followed by a Rosary service at 7:00 PM at the same location. A funeral mass will be held on December 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Portland, with burial to follow at Palms Memorial Garden in Taft, Texas.

Memorial donations may be made to Works of Charity, 1008 Austin Street, Portland, Texas, 78374.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Winsteads’ Funeral Home. (361) 643-6564 www.winsteadsfuneralhome.com