Geraldine Collosky

Geraldine Frances Collosky (nee Kaluz), “Gere” 93, of Chicago’s River North and West Town neighborhoods, formerly of Flossmoor, IL, passed away February 28, 2026.

Gere was proud of her Austrian and Hungarian roots and spoke often of “the old country.” She liked to remind her children and grandchildren that they descended from a line of leaders who opposed fascism, embraced adventure, and believed in treating all human beings with dignity. Gere was uncommonly tough. She left home in her early twenties to pursue big dreams in New York City and landed at the Barbizon Hotel for Women, then known as a “charm school dormitory” that barred men from ladies’ rooms. Other alumni include Grace Kelly, Liza Minnelli and Joan Didion. Born in Chicago, Gere attended Bloom High School and earned her Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in 1955 and also worked toward an MBA.

After graduation, she worked on Wall Street for several years before returning to Chicago at the urging of her parents. They’d been pressuring her to get married, which prompted her to wise-crack: “Doctor, lawyer, or engineer?” Shortly after her return, she met the man she would wed, after his golf tournament was rained out. Decades later, she told her granddaughter that she recalled laying with her head in his lap and thinking with a sense of calm, “This is it.” It was a love match, she explained. But yes, he was also an engineer. The couple chose to raise their family in Flossmoor, IL.

Gere opted to stay home with the kids until her middle daughter, Lisa, began struggling in class. Determined to help, Gere became such a fixture at Leavitt Avenue School that the school district hired her to work in the special education department. Later on, aiming to challenge herself, she took a job with Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in the Marketing and Communications department where she worked until retirement. Devoted mother of William “Will” Andrew (partner Stephanie Duncan) Collosky.

Loving grandmother of Danielle “Dani” Paquette (Scott Garfing), Jon “J.” (Aly) Paquette, and Madeleine “Maddie” Harper Duncan-Collosky. Great-grandmother of Levi Colton Paquette, Louis George Garfing (named for his grandfather), and Ivan James Paquette. Preceded in death by husband Lewis Maurice Collosky, daughters Carolyn (Paul) Paquette and Lisa Anne Collosky, infant son Thomas Andrew Collosky, and parents Andrew P. Kaluza and Helen Koshut Kaluza.

Visitation 10:30am (mass begins 11:30am), Saturday, March 14, St. Michael Church in Old Town, 1633 N. Cleveland, Chicago, 60614 followed by burial at Oakridge - Glen Oak Cemetery in Hillside, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital https://www.stjude.org/donate/ Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-370-2959 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.