Geraldene "Gerry" Parrott

Geraldene (Gerry) Marie Parrott, age 82, of New Brighton peacefully passed away on March 3, 2025. Preceded in death by parents Wally Aho and Jennie Nordbeck and step-father Adolph (Spike) Nordbeck. Survived by husband Robert (Bob) Parrott, sister Norlene McAuliffe; sons Stephen and Bradley; daughter Collene; grandchildren Zachary Parrott, Tanner Parrott, Delaney Parrott, Finley Dabish and William Dabish, nieces, nephews and cousins. Gerry was born in the Detroit area where she lived until the death of her father when she was nine years old. She, along with her mother and sister moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to live with her grandfather on the farm where her mother grew up. After high school, Gerry moved back to the Detroit area to attend nursing school. She graduated in 1961 and became a Registered Nurse working in hospital clinical nursing, public health nursing, school nursing, and industrial nursing. It was while she was a full-time public health nurse and part-time hospital floor nurse that she met a patient named Robert Parrott, who she married about a year and a half later. Gerry earned her "PHT" degree (Put Hubby Through graduate school) working at the Veterans Administration (VA) hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Gerry spent most of her career serving veterans at VA facilities in the midwest and received recognition as an outstanding civil servant. She started a hospice unit at the VA hospital in Ann Arbor early on in her career and was a co-founder of the non-profit Veterans Hospice Foundation in Minnesota after her retirement. Gerry was dedicated to her family as well. She had a unique and special relationship with each of her three children, Stephen (Steve), Bradley (Brad) and Collene, though there were times the common thread of laughter could take over the whole family. Gerry was a people person who loved to make new connections. In retirement, she enjoyed church activities, her Stampin' Up card making enterprise and hosting craft shows. Gerry lived her life as a caring, giving (and hugging) person. The staff of the memory care unit where she spent the last 4 ½ years of her life shared how much she helped and hugged! Visitation 10AM followed by a Celebration of Life Sat., March 22, 11AM, Nativity Lutheran Church, 3312 Silver Lake Rd., St. Anthony, MN. Interment at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Detroit, MI March 28 at 11AM. Funeral livestream at NativityChurch.org/Worship/Live-Stream/. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, www.ALZ.org or to Nativity Lutheran Church, www.NativityChurch.org.

Tributes

Geraldene "Gerry" Parrott

November 6, 1942 - March 3, 2025

Tributes

Geraldene "Gerry" Parrott

November 6, 1942 - March 3, 2025

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