Geraldine M. Skahan, 90, of Hixson, passed away peacefully Feb. 1.
Mrs. Skahan was born Oct. 17, 1933, in Flushing, N.Y. In 1954, she met and married a sailor, Paul Skahan, and three months later they were living in Naples, Italy, where he was stationed. The first of her six children, daughter Kathleen, was born the next year.
Mr. and Mrs. Skahan would continue to travel as his military career continued and their family grew. Upon Mr. Skahan’s retirement from the Navy in 1965, the family moved to Long Island, N.Y., where they had extended family. In 1968, the move to Cumberland, Maine, would prove to be Mrs. Skahan’s favorite, as she loved being close to both lakes and the ocean, often taking her children to the beach several times a week during the summers.
In 1978, Mr. Skahan took a different job, and the family moved to Red Bank in the Chattanooga area. It was quite an adjustment, but Mrs. Skahan did the best she could, eventually acclimating to the warmer climate. The kids grew up, and Mr. and Mrs. Skahan eventually retired to Navarre, Fla. Health issues for Mr. Skahan meant returning north for more family support. Mr. Skahan passed away in 2008, and Mrs. Skahan had a remarkably active and healthy life until recently.
She was a member of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga.
She is survived by Kathleen Schumann (Rob) of Gray, Maine, Patrick Skahan (Melissa) of Cumberland, Maine, Judge Paula Skahan (Wendy) of Memphis, Kevin Skahan of Hixson, Thomas Skahan (Kim) of Stuart, Fla., and Gerald Skahan of Memphis; one brother, James Reardon of Dayton, Ohio. Mrs. Skahan was “Grandma” to 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A funeral Mass for Mrs. Skahan was celebrated on Feb. 10 at St. Jude Church.
