M. Joan Geiger

M. Joan (Dobbs) Geiger, 97, of Danvers, beloved wife of the late James L. Geiger, with whom she shared 60 years of marriage, passed away on March 31, 2024 with her loving family by her side. Born March 21, 1927, in Oak Park IL, Joan was the daughter of the late Franklin W. Dobbs and Margaret Elizabeth (Bernard) Dobbs, the stepdaughter of the late Mildred M. (Baumann) Dobbs, and the sister of Judith Pire. Joan attended Haverford High School in PA, Class of 1944 and continued her education at Bowling Green University in Ohio, where she met the love of her life! Her long and successful teaching career started with her first job in Shaker Heights, OH. In 1965, Joan moved to Danvers, MA, where her teaching career continued for almost 30 years, teaching at Saint Mary of the Annunciation, Fox Hill School, Riverside, Highlands, Maple Street, Tapley, and her last 18 years of teaching was at Great Oak School. She was an organized, patient, caring, and dedicated, special education teacher who took great pride in seeing her students learn and succeed. She was one of the first teachers instrumental in establishing the Learning Disabilities program in Danvers which was originally started at Fox Hill School. She was extremely proud to be a teacher. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother of 18, sister, aunt, and friend to many, she thoroughly enjoyed hearing every detail of all of their lives. Her life was filled with joy and happiness from everyone around her, especially her “Panera friends” that she still shared an indelible bond with to this day. Joan was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, the Bowling Green Alumni Association, St Mary of the Annunciation Parish and an active member of St Richard Parish. She was an officer in the former Danvers Mr. and Mrs. Catholic Couples Club, the Danvers Lions Club and recently received the 10-year Milestone Chevron Award, the National Education Association, the Massachusetts Retired Educators Association of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. Joan reached out to many family and friends and will be remembered for her kindness and generosity. No act of kindness was too small for Joan. Surviving Joan are her children: David and Janet (Ames) Geiger, Susan Arrington, Carol Geiger and James and Juliana (Borgiani) Geiger, her grandchildren Lynne Comeau (Billy), Alyssa Poey (Alan), Brittany Arrington (Jenn), Brian Geiger (Amanda), Michael Geiger (Jeanette), Christie Ruta (Mike), Stephanie Hasselbeck (James), Lia Giasi (Mike) and Stephen Schapero, her 18 great-grandchildren Haile, Vianna, Jason, Anthony, Hayden, Mia, Theresa, James, William, Lucas, Rhea, Joanna, Evelyn, Christopher, Nico, Nathan, Alexander and Jackson, as well as many nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her husband, James Geiger (2010), and her son-in-law, Edward E. Arrington Jr. (2001). Joan’s family wishes to thank her caregivers, Jan Levasseur and Kris Berry for their compassion and unwavering support to Joan and her family. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10AM on April 8, 2024 in Saint Richard Church, 90 Forest St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Walnut Grove Cemetery, 30 Sylvan St., Danvers. Visiting hours are 3-6PMon Sunday, April 7, 2024 at C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm Street, Danvers. Flowers may be sent to C.R. Lyons and Sons, 28 Elm Street, Danvers. Memorial Donations may be sent in Joan’s name to the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers, 15 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA, 01923 or www.danverslibrary.org. Online directions and condolences are available at www.LyonsFuneral.com