Genevieve Pancoast

We celebrate the life of Genny, who was, to quote someone who knew her well, a matriarchal powerhouse. Truer words were never spoken. Although she only had two children, she was a mother to so many more. Nieces and nephews, her grandchildren, and even some young people who weren’t related by blood were all recipients of Genny’s mothering. She had a natural ability to take care of the children who wandered into her life, and never turned anyone away, which is remarkable since she had no role model. Her own mother was taken from her when she was just a baby, and she spent her childhood in an orphanage where she was given just the minimum she needed to stay alive: there wasn’t a drop of love in the whole place.  In spite of her sad beginnings, she managed to be a woman so full of love, kindness, and compassion that she did nothing but give it away to any who needed it.

Genny began her life as Genevieve Raimondi on September 6, 1930, the youngest of 6 children. She and her siblings were first generation Americans: her parents both emigrated from Italy. She survived the effects of The Great Depression and WW2. There is no one in the family who hasn’t heard the story of Genny’s older sister Mary leaving her orphanage and, working tirelessly with their father, getting out each sibling “one by one” in order of birth. Genny left the orphanage last and moved to Binghamton with her father to Susquehanna Street, which was a great Italian neighborhood. She loved to roller-skate and skip rope, and later to dance. Genny was sassy in her youth, and remained so until a few days before she died, when she could not speak out loud anymore.

She spent her life with her husband Tom: they were married for nearly 68 years. They complimented each other as a couple- they made great parents and grandparents, they worked hard, and tried to enjoy life to its fullest. She worked for IBM for over 25 years, a female in a man’s world. She was smart and driven and a wizard with a dollar.

The downfall of Genny began with a throw rug and some M&Ms. As she moved from one room to the next two years ago; she tripped on the rug, spilled her favorite candy all over the floor, and broke her femur. The result of this fall was a slow decline in mobility and health. This, along with advancing dementia and the final blow of a recent heart attack was just too much for her to recover from. She spent her last days at home, in her own room, slipping away from all who loved her an inch at a time. It was a hard thing to see- someone who was always so strong, and so completely in charge of everything- have to relinquish that power and give it over to others and allow them to take care of her.

Two weeks ago, Genny experienced visits from her siblings and family who are already in Heaven, and we like to think that she is there now with them, dressed in her fancy clothes and clear peep-toed dancing shoes and fine jewelry. (She had a bit of a shopping problem later in life.) We hope she is enjoying everyone’s company and that she is young and strong again and maybe even having a sloe gin and orange or some of her dad’s homemade wine. She wasn’t a great cook, although she valiantly tried to be, but she certainly did love food. We hope that her sister and dad are cooking big Italian meals and that she can once again enjoy eating.

Genny is survived by her husband, Thomas Pancoast, her son, Thomas J. Pancoast (Laurie), her daughter, Debra (Pancoast) Wdowiak, grandson Cody Wdowiak (Kallie), granddaughter Sam Wdowiak, and her last remaining sibling, Rocco Raimondi (Gloria). She has countless nieces and nephews that extend for three more generations. Special mention should be made of “that boy in the basement” and his sister, (Hunter and Kallie Root), who have each spent countless happy and not so happy hours both living as her almost grandchildren with joy, and caring for her as she slipped closer and closer to death. She is pre-deceased by her parents Phillip and Mary Raimondi, her brothers Dominick Raimondi (Ruth), Anthony Raimondi (Jessie), and Joseph Raimondi (Paula), and her beloved sister Mary and brother-in-law, Tony Forbidussi.

Genny has taken a piece of everyone’s heart with her to Heaven, and her loss will be felt by many. We will miss her big belly busting laughs- especially the ones which ended with tears rolling down her face and her tummy shaking with laughter. They were contagious, and once started, were almost impossible to stop.

The family will receive friends on Monday, April 17, at Thomas J. Shea Funeral Home 137 Robinson Street in Binghamton, NY.  Calling hours are from 4-6, with a Funeral Service to follow at 6pm. Her remains with be interred privately at Calvary Cemetery in Johnson City, NY.

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