Geraldine Hayes

Geraldine Hayes (nee Conklin), 91 of Wayne, died peacefully on December 23, 2019.  She was a resident of Packanack Lake for nearly seventy years.

Geraldine grew up in Belleville, NJ which is where she met her husband, Robert.  They had known each other in the community and began dating after a youth group function at a local church.  They were married on March 12, 1949 and settled into an apartment in Belleville while Robert began building them a home in Wayne.  They moved there in 1953 and raised their family at Packanack Lake.  Geraldine became active in the community, serving with her husband as co-president of the Square Dance Club for many years, swimming laps at the beach for exercise, and enjoying the comradery of life at Packanack Lake.  Raising their four children in Packanack was an adventure, and their vacations were much the same.  Gerry and Bob traveled across the country four times by car with all the kids, visiting national parks, museums, and all sorts of interesting places along the way.  Each time they took a different route, visiting unique places and exposing their kids to all that this Nation has to offer.  Geraldine took full advantage of the “AAA route planning” and used the AAA guides every time.  Ironically, she was a worrier, concerned that someone might fall in while they were making spectacular family memories in places like the Grand Canyon and Watkins Glen.  Her offspring agree that they inherited Mom and Dad’s love of travel and have all traveled with their own families throughout the United States and the world.   She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved her family.  They will all miss her dearly.

Geraldine is survived by her four children; Marjorie Catania of West Milford, Kenneth Hayes and his wife Jacalyn of Flemington, NJ, Lorraine Storbeck and her husband John of Wayne, and Virginia Senft and her husband David of Gaithersburg, MD, seven grandchildren; Jason Catania, Derek Storbeck (Emily), Katherine Storbeck, Garrett Hayes (Manisha), Bradley Senft, Christopher Senft, and Danielle Senft, and one great-grandchild; Bodhi Hayes.  She was predeceased by her husband Robert in 2005, and by her three siblings; Arthur Conklin, Evelyn Chilton, and Julia Hardaker.