Sept. 29, 1939 — Jan. 19, 2016

Geraldine C. Echevarria, 76, of Niles, Michigan died at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, at Hospice House in South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.

She was born on Sept. 29, 1939, in McDougal, Arkansas to Otto G. and Edith E. (Harmon) Carter. She was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived in Niles most of her life. She was employed by Niles Community Schools for thirty years, and was an active member and officer of the Service Employees International Union local #517M.

Gery attended Portage Road General Baptist Church and its former church on Chicago Road in Buchanan. She enjoyed travelling with her husband to his origins in Puerto Rico. They had also toured South America, had several Caribbean cruises, and visited the penny slots in Las Vegas. Although she loved to travel, her greatest interest was here at home with her family.

On Oct. 25, 1958, in Buchanan she married Celestino F. “Tino” Echevarria with whom she celebrated last year the 57th anniversary of their wedding.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by a brother, Otto “Dewayne” Carter in 2003.

Surviving family includes her husband, Tino and their children, Patricia (Philip) Bianchini, David (Tonia) Echevarria, and Steven Echevarria, all of Niles, and Robert (Patricia) Echevarria of Katy, Texas; grandchildren Shawn Echevarria, Christopher (Coreana Frampton) Dunnem, Michael (Bekah) Echevarria, Amanda Echevarria, Brian Echevarria, Dena Dunnem, Denise (Nathan) Ford, Kc Dunnem, Haley Echevarria, and Joey Echevarria; seven great-grandchildren; Gery’s sister-in-law Avis (Mrs. Dewayne) Carter and Tino’s siblings, Isabelle Echevarria, Patila Rodriguez, and Joe Echevarria; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Geraldine Echevarria will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Lonnie Rhodes of the Portage Road General Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

www.halbritterfunerals.com