Geraldine Ellen Pinto

Geraldine Ellen Pinto, age 75 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 20, 2020 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Geraldine was born and raised in Brooklyn and was the younger of two children to James and Ida Cuilla.  As a young girl, Geraldine took to being an artist.  In her youth she showed great talent drawing and sketching various objects and scenes.  She truly had an eye for beauty at a very early age.  Geraldine attended Bay Ridge High School in New York and graduated with the class of 1962.  Following her graduation, she earned her Associates Degree at Drake’s Business School, also in New York. She then worked as a secretary and manager in Manhattan for two years.

Geraldine married and soon went to work at Saint Louis University in Missouri while her husband attended medical school. She later put her drawing and sketching skills to work and was contracted to sketch medical illustrations. Not long after, Geraldine devoted her life to being a full time homemaker and taking care of her children.  

In 1968, Geraldine welcomed the birth of her fist son Richard, and later in 1970 her second son Matthew.  As a young woman raising two boys, she moved around, living in Virginia at a US Army Base where her husband was stationed at the time.  The family then moved to Little Falls, NJ in 1973 and remained there for about three years.  Subsequent to living in Little Falls, the family moved to Wayne, then to Texas.  After spending a short amount of time in Texas, the family was drawn back to Wayne in 1978.  Geraldine remained in Wayne for the rest of her life.  

Geraldine was truly dedicated to her family and was always there when they needed her.  She was a wonderful cook and cherished hosting holidays for her family, friends, and those who had nowhere to spend the holidays. She was a highly skilled craftsperson creating quilts, clothing and embroideries for her loved ones. She was wonderfully generous and dedicated to her community.  When she knew someone was sick or having a hard time, she would take time out of her day to check up on them and would send them hand made cards and notes.  

Geraldine was not only dedicated to her family but also to her Catholic Faith.  She was a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church in Wayne for many years. There she also volunteered at the school library.  Geraldine loved animals, especially dogs, and treasured everything that nature had to offer.  She often took nature walks and enjoyed bird watching as well.  She was a voracious reader of all sorts of literature, always trying to fill her mind with knowledge.

Throughout the years, Geraldine and her family enjoyed traveling, visiting a number of destination such as Hawaii, Scandinavia, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  She was a quiet and private person who truly enjoyed her independence.  Her greatest passion however, was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Geraldine than caring for, and spending time with her family.  Geraldine was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.  

Geraldine is survived by her two sons; Richard Pinto and his wife Rosie of New York, NY, and Matthew Pinto of Ashburn, VA.  One sister Diane Cuilla of Brooklyn, NY, one aunt Patricia Wells of Lakeland, FL, four cousins, Ellen Madjidi of Long Island, NY, Vera Garret of Westchester, NY, Deborah Oliver of Stafford, Virginia and Sal Trapani of Jacksonville FL and other extended family.        

In lieu of flowers, donations in Geraldine’s name may be made to Friends of Wayne Animals PO Box 3701, Wayne, NJ 07470 http://www.fowarescue.org or Lustgarten Foundation 1111 Stewart Ave, Bethpage, NY 11714. http://www.lustgarten.org .