Obituary: Geraldine 'Gerry' Shields

Geraldine “Gerry” Shields, 81, of Longboat Key, died June 8.

Born Jan. 3, 1928, she was a native of Detroit.

Mrs. Shields was a Foreign Service spouse and homemaker. While on Foreign Service assignments with her husband and four children in Vietnam, Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan and Panama, she taught English as a second language. She pursued her passion for painting and developed a genuine interest in the culture and politics of each place in which she lived, while dedicating herself to caring for her children and household.

Mrs. Shields is remembered as her family’s foundation, nurturer and source of inspiration throughout ever-changing locations and worldwide settings.

Mrs. Shields was a resident of Spanish Main Yacht Club, where she coordinated and hosted the community’s annual St. Patrick’s Day party.

Mrs. Shields is survived by her husband of 59 years, Paul Shields, of Longboat Key; daughters, Maureen Grosshuesch, of Breckenridge, Colo., and Melba Shields, of Centennial, Colo.; sons, Patrick Shield, of Norwalk, Conn., and Terry Shields, of Littleton, Colo.; and seven grandchildren.

A memorial Mass will take place Oct. 15, at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the name of Geraldine Shields to the Philanthropy Department, TideWell Hospice and Palliative Care, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, Fla., 34238.