Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, October 23, 2016 from 2-6 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, October 24, 2016, 10:30 AM from the funeral home.
Helen D. “Diane” Gerris, age 80, of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 20, 2016.
Born and raised in Kearny, she attended Kearny High School and graduated with the Class of 1951. One of her favorite pastimes in high school was cheering on the Kearny Kardinals football team. It was while in high school that Diane met the man she would someday marry. His name was Charles Gerris and he worked in the gas station that she passed everyday on the walk with her friends from their homes to school. What started out as friendly banter, grew to love that led to marriage on the day after Valentine’s Day - Saturday, February 15, 1958 at St. Stephen’s RC Church in Kearny. It was a snowy day to say the least as about two feet of the fluffy white stuff fell that day, but it didn’t stop Diane and Charlie from exchanging their vows before God, family and friends. After the ceremony, they celebrated with a reception at the Irvington House in Irvington. A couple of days later, when they were able to dig the car out, Diane and Charlie left for their honeymoon to Florida. More of the unexpected came when they stopped at a diner in Maryland. While sitting in their car in the parking lot, a snow plow backed into them. Although this was a scary development, the car was still able to make the trip to Florida and they gave thanks that no one was hurt.
The newlyweds first home was a second floor apartment in Kearny. They stayed there for one year, then moved to North Arlington where they were blessed with a son, Charles, Jr. In 1962, their new home in Wayne, built by Charlie himself, was ready. They moved into that house in October and soon after, a second son, Scott was born. From that time on, they have always remained residents of Wayne.
After high school, Diane worked as an insurance underwriter with General Accident Insurance in Newark. Shortly after marriage, she got a job with O’Connor Laffey Insurance Group in North Arlington. When she moved to Wayne, she got a job in the Medical Park on Ratzer Road as a medical receptionist with Dr. Leonard Lesniak. Diane was the perfect person for this job as she had such a sensitive heart for the patients that came for care. Consequently, the many years she worked there, never felt like going to work.
Anytime Diane could spend time down the Jersey shore was a good time to her. She loved the warmth of the sun and the feel of the sand and waves between her toes. When it was too cold for that, she would still manage to get down to Atlantic City to see if Lady Luck was on her side. She also enjoyed going out for dinner with Charlie. Diane was a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church ever since she moved to Wayne. In recent years, her health would not allow her to attend mass but she always held God close in her heart.
As a member of the Women’s Auxiliary, anyone would be hard pressed to match Diane’s dedication to the Wayne PAL. If there was something going on, you could bet that Diane was involved. She began volunteering when her own sons, Charlie and Scott, began participating, but, long after they had grown up and moved on, Diane enthusiastically remained – helping out with fundraisers, selling concessions or doing whatever needed to be done to help the kids have a great childhood experience. Even right up to her passing, Diane was still helping out at PAL.
Diane was a truly tender-hearted human being. Nothing called her to compassion more than the suffering of a living creature whether four legged or two. She donated regularly to countless animal rescue shelters and any organization that ministered to those who were displaced by a disaster or who were just homeless and down on their good fortune. In her own quiet way, that’s what made her so dear and special. She was taken suddenly but her family finds comfort in knowing that she rests now in the arms of the Lord.
Surviving are Diane’s beloved husband of 58 years - Charles W.; two sons: Charles W., Jr. of Riverdale, and Scott of New York City; one sister: Arlene Kaisen of Nutley, her brother-in-law: Leo Gerris of Long Valley, NJ; two nieces: Janet Kaisen and Linda Malik; and one nephew: Jeff Gerris. She was predeceased by her sister Jacqueline Wason.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Diane’s name are asked to consider the Wayne PAL, 1 PAL Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, October 23, 2016 from 2-6 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, October 24, 2016, 10:30 AM from the funeral home.
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, October 23, 2016 from 2-6 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, October 24, 2016, 10:30 AM from the funeral home.
Helen D. “Diane” Gerris, age 80, of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 20, 2016.
Born and raised in Kearny, she attended Kearny High School and graduated with the Class of 1951. One of her favorite pastimes in high school was cheering on the Kearny Kardinals football team. It was while in high school that Diane met the man she would someday marry. His name was Charles Gerris and he worked in the gas station that she passed everyday on the walk with her friends from their homes to school. What started out as friendly banter, grew to love that led to marriage on the day after Valentine’s Day - Saturday, February 15, 1958 at St. Stephen’s RC Church in Kearny. It was a snowy day to say the least as about two feet of the fluffy white stuff fell that day, but it didn’t stop Diane and Charlie from exchanging their vows before God, family and friends. After the ceremony, they celebrated with a reception at the Irvington House in Irvington. A couple of days later, when they were able to dig the car out, Diane and Charlie left for their honeymoon to Florida. More of the unexpected came when they stopped at a diner in Maryland. While sitting in their car in the parking lot, a snow plow backed into them. Although this was a scary development, the car was still able to make the trip to Florida and they gave thanks that no one was hurt.
The newlyweds first home was a second floor apartment in Kearny. They stayed there for one year, then moved to North Arlington where they were blessed with a son, Charles, Jr. In 1962, their new home in Wayne, built by Charlie himself, was ready. They moved into that house in October and soon after, a second son, Scott was born. From that time on, they have always remained residents of Wayne.
After high school, Diane worked as an insurance underwriter with General Accident Insurance in Newark. Shortly after marriage, she got a job with O’Connor Laffey Insurance Group in North Arlington. When she moved to Wayne, she got a job in the Medical Park on Ratzer Road as a medical receptionist with Dr. Leonard Lesniak. Diane was the perfect person for this job as she had such a sensitive heart for the patients that came for care. Consequently, the many years she worked there, never felt like going to work.
Anytime Diane could spend time down the Jersey shore was a good time to her. She loved the warmth of the sun and the feel of the sand and waves between her toes. When it was too cold for that, she would still manage to get down to Atlantic City to see if Lady Luck was on her side. She also enjoyed going out for dinner with Charlie. Diane was a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church ever since she moved to Wayne. In recent years, her health would not allow her to attend mass but she always held God close in her heart.
As a member of the Women’s Auxiliary, anyone would be hard pressed to match Diane’s dedication to the Wayne PAL. If there was something going on, you could bet that Diane was involved. She began volunteering when her own sons, Charlie and Scott, began participating, but, long after they had grown up and moved on, Diane enthusiastically remained – helping out with fundraisers, selling concessions or doing whatever needed to be done to help the kids have a great childhood experience. Even right up to her passing, Diane was still helping out at PAL.
Diane was a truly tender-hearted human being. Nothing called her to compassion more than the suffering of a living creature whether four legged or two. She donated regularly to countless animal rescue shelters and any organization that ministered to those who were displaced by a disaster or who were just homeless and down on their good fortune. In her own quiet way, that’s what made her so dear and special. She was taken suddenly but her family finds comfort in knowing that she rests now in the arms of the Lord.
Surviving are Diane’s beloved husband of 58 years - Charles W.; two sons: Charles W., Jr. of Riverdale, and Scott of New York City; one sister: Arlene Kaisen of Nutley, her brother-in-law: Leo Gerris of Long Valley, NJ; two nieces: Janet Kaisen and Linda Malik; and one nephew: Jeff Gerris. She was predeceased by her sister Jacqueline Wason.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Diane’s name are asked to consider the Wayne PAL, 1 PAL Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470.
Guestbook