Geraldine Amelia Zyck, age 90 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, entered into eternal life on Monday, May 2, 2022, at home, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on January 5, 1932, in Easton, PA, daughter of the late Ignatius “Egie” and Helen Lis Cegielski, Geraldine was raised in Kintnersville, PA, moving to Flemington, NJ, in 1951 and then to the Raritan Township section of Ringoes, NJ, in 1956.

Graduating Nockamixon High School in 1949, Geraldine would use her spunky and determined spirit to achieve several career milestones throughout her varied work experience. Marrying her late husband, Walter Henry Zyck with whom she joined hands in marriage on September 8, 1951, she would find work as a clerk for Pearl’s Drug Store, Somerville, NJ, where she fondly recalled having a ‘spirited conversation’ with Albert Einstein, who left their chat better understanding Geraldine’s strong spirit.

Always a hard worker, and with a dedication to providing for her family, she would go on to work for RCA, Bridgewater, NJ, then for General Motors, Edison, NJ, as an assembler.

Following those jobs, she and Walter would open and operate Diamond Realty, where she would serve as broker. For years she helped many achieve their dream of home and property ownership. It was in 1977 though, when Geraldine decided to follow a dream she had since childhood and returned to Somerset County Community College with aspirations of becoming a Registered Nurse. She would first attain her LPN degree, and would then take an accelerated RN challenge course, earning her degree in one year.

Now a proud Registered Nurse, Geraldine would take a job at Lyons VA Medical Center where she would work for many years providing dedicated and compassionate service to her patients and their families. Upon her retirement from Lyons, she would work for several years at Bridgeway Care Center, Bridgewater, NJ, and Valley View Care Center, Alexandria Township, NJ, before finally retiring full-time.

A longtime, faithful communicant of St. Magdalen Church, Flemington, NJ, she was a proud member of the Rosary Altar Society and said the rosary several times a day, praying for the health and wellbeing of family and friends.

Loving the outdoors, her home and the two acres it sat on were a testament to her love of flowers and nature. She meticulously cultivated everything from daffodils, lilys, peonies, azaleas, tulips, and many other flowers which brought smiles to so many that received bouquets from Geraldine.

Traveling was also a part of her DNA, and Geraldine greatly enjoyed exploring the United States, with the Blue Ridge Mountains being one of her favorite places to visit.

Her tough exterior but soft heart helped keep her family together, and she loved keeping family traditions going, especially the old Polish family traditions that had been passed down through generations. She ensured these traditions would continue with the next generations, and when Geraldine insisted on something, everyone followed! With her being one of seven and Walter being one of eight, there was always something happening at the Zyck household and Geraldine and Walter were known for hosting Sunday picnics where swimming was mandatory and food was abundant.

Though her passing came quickly, it was only a week ago where Geraldine reflected to her family that she was not afraid to die; rather she was sad to leave the beautiful life and family that she had helped to create.

To honor Geraldine is to remember the words of Saint Padre Pio and the love of Mary, whom Geraldine invoked daily for those she loved most, “May the mother of Jesus and our mother, always smile on your spirit, obtaining for it, from her most holy son, every heavenly blessing.”

In addition to her parents and her husband, Geraldine was preceded in death by her siblings: Helen Kovacs (1976), Lawrence Cegielski (1989), Dorothy Schmidt (2019), and Edward Cegielski (2021).

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Eleanor and Robert Schrieber; her son and daughter-in-law, Walter and Donna Zyck; her grandson, Daniel Rice, MD; her granddaughter, Michelle Rice, APN; her step grandchildren, Jeff Schrieber and Caitlin Thomas and Jennifer and her husband, Brian Bekich; five step great grandchildren, Bailey, Jules, Peyton, Genevieve, and Kelly; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Joseph and Dorothy Cegielski and Thomas and Carole Cegielski; several extended family members; and many friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. John Primich will take place on Friday, May 6, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Magdalen Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ, under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. All guests are kindly asked to meet directly at the church on Friday morning, beginning at 9:45 a.m.

Interment will follow at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, 453 Haycock Run Road, Kintnersville, PA 18930 and to which all are welcome.

There will be no public calling hours. Instead, please take a moment to pray for Geraldine as well as your own family and friends, as she did daily.

You are encouraged to visit Geraldine’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to the Blue Army Shrine, via mail to 674 Mountain View Road East, Asbury, NJ 08802, or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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