Obituary for Geraldine Stokes
Geraldine “Cookie” Mary Marulis Ranere Stokes – A woman of many names, many friends and many personalities passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, in Danbury, Connecticut.
Cookie was born to Dorothy and Andrew Marulis on January 26, 1949, in Manhattan, NY. She grew up in Hell’s Kitchen and later the Bronx Eastchester Projects along with her loving brothers Ricky, Kenny, Danny, and Jimmy.
At the age of 17, Cookie married Joe Ranere, and quickly had two boys, Andrew, and John Ranere. Although Cookie and Joe’s marriage didn’t last, they remained close friends in the years to follow.
Cookie would later remarry Eddie “the Dude” Stokes and go on to have two more children, TJ and Natalie. All four of Cookie’s children were raised in the Bronx in a 2.5-bedroom apartment with an open-door policy; you never knew who or how many people would be there when you walked in, but they were guaranteed to have been welcomed with, open arms, rock and roll and homemade food. Cookie was an exceptional cook who could easily turn a bag of frozen broccoli and a chicken leg into a gourmet meal, although that’s a drastic exaggeration because you would never find canned or frozen vegetables in Cookie’s kitchen.
One of Cookie’s favorite pastimes was living up to her affectionately dubbed title “fun, crazy Grandma” by always being hip beyond her years.
Cookie was an avid reader, trivia buff and music lover. She fought fiercely when it came to those she loved and was always there whenever someone needed help, particularly manual labor, she would clean your home, mow your lawn or be a 24-hour caretaker to a friend in need. However, if she were writing this obituary, she would surely want to mention that growing up she was both the best spitter and highest tree climber on the block, always beating out the boys of the neighborhood.
If you can’t remember a time in your life when you had a blast with Cookie, you probably never met her.
Cookie is survived by her four children, Andrew Ranere, John Ranere, TJ Stokes, and Natalie Carpentieri, her daughter in-law Christine Stokes, son-in law Danny Carpentieri, her grandchildren Kayla Ranere, Michael Ranere, Jake Carpentieri, Alex Carpentieri, Meghan Stokes, and Molly Stokes, her brothers Ricky Marulis (Cheppy), Kenny Marulis (Mary) and Danny Marulis as well as all her cherished brother and sister in-laws from the Stokes family. Over 30 nieces and nephews and many friends she believed were family. Cookie was predeceased by her husband Eddie, parents Dorothy and Andrew Marulis, brother Jimmy Marulis, and her mother and father in-law Eddie and Mary Stokes.
Please join us in celebrating Cookie’s life:
Saturday, December 16, 2023
1pm to 5pm
Westchester Funeral Home
190 Main Street
Eastchester, NY 10709
Cookie was born to Dorothy and Andrew Marulis on January 26, 1949, in Manhattan, NY. She grew up in Hell’s Kitchen and later the Bronx Eastchester Projects along with her loving brothers Ricky, Kenny, Danny, and Jimmy.
At the age of 17, Cookie married Joe Ranere, and quickly had two boys, Andrew, and John Ranere. Although Cookie and Joe’s marriage didn’t last, they remained close friends in the years to follow.
Cookie would later remarry Eddie “the Dude” Stokes and go on to have two more children, TJ and Natalie. All four of Cookie’s children were raised in the Bronx in a 2.5-bedroom apartment with an open-door policy; you never knew who or how many people would be there when you walked in, but they were guaranteed to have been welcomed with, open arms, rock and roll and homemade food. Cookie was an exceptional cook who could easily turn a bag of frozen broccoli and a chicken leg into a gourmet meal, although that’s a drastic exaggeration because you would never find canned or frozen vegetables in Cookie’s kitchen.
One of Cookie’s favorite pastimes was living up to her affectionately dubbed title “fun, crazy Grandma” by always being hip beyond her years.
Cookie was an avid reader, trivia buff and music lover. She fought fiercely when it came to those she loved and was always there whenever someone needed help, particularly manual labor, she would clean your home, mow your lawn or be a 24-hour caretaker to a friend in need. However, if she were writing this obituary, she would surely want to mention that growing up she was both the best spitter and highest tree climber on the block, always beating out the boys of the neighborhood.
If you can’t remember a time in your life when you had a blast with Cookie, you probably never met her.
Cookie is survived by her four children, Andrew Ranere, John Ranere, TJ Stokes, and Natalie Carpentieri, her daughter in-law Christine Stokes, son-in law Danny Carpentieri, her grandchildren Kayla Ranere, Michael Ranere, Jake Carpentieri, Alex Carpentieri, Meghan Stokes, and Molly Stokes, her brothers Ricky Marulis (Cheppy), Kenny Marulis (Mary) and Danny Marulis as well as all her cherished brother and sister in-laws from the Stokes family. Over 30 nieces and nephews and many friends she believed were family. Cookie was predeceased by her husband Eddie, parents Dorothy and Andrew Marulis, brother Jimmy Marulis, and her mother and father in-law Eddie and Mary Stokes.
Please join us in celebrating Cookie’s life:
Saturday, December 16, 2023
1pm to 5pm
Westchester Funeral Home
190 Main Street
Eastchester, NY 10709