Germaine Griggs

Germaine Griggs was born November 21, 1933 to Guido and Mary Giovannelli. She passed peacefully with her children and grandchildren by her side on October 17, 2016. Germaine grew up in San Carlos and met her husband of 50 years, the late Gerald Griggs, at Burton Park while attending Central Middle School. Germaine graduated from Sequoia High School in 1951. She remained active with classmates attending regular class reunions as long as she was able. Germaine worked at Lenkurt Electric Company in the 1950s until being blessed with her first daughter in 1957. She then found her true profession as a mother and homemaker raising 2 daughters and eventually welcoming 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She lived for her family and friends and reveled in her Italian culture. Germaine was first generation Italian American and enjoyed her parents and sister (the late Dora Bianchini) and brother (the late Vasco Giovannelli) and their families nearby on the SF Peninsula. Food, family, crafts and music were an integral part of every holiday and birthday celebration. She enjoyed her travels to Italy to meet and visit with relatives in Toscana. She passed along her Italian pride and love of good food to her next generation. With her husband and life partner, Jerry Griggs and his parents, sister and her family the families blended into a loving and engaged extended family. Great family gatherings were had each summer at Clear Lake where several generations convened to relax, fish, float, swim, water ski and eat. Everyone sharing recipes, cooking and fishing techniques, passed along life lessons to each new generation. Germaine lived an active and creative life. She was an accomplished seamstress sewing matching dresses with lots of frills for herself and her 2 young daughters and later for her granddaughters with lots of princess dresses and Halloween costumes. She taught and inspired her niece and daughters to sew, giving them a true gift. She and her husband were avid golfers. Passing this passion to her children and grandchildren allowed for fun multi-generational golf adventures. Germaine was a spontaneous adventurer with an independent and strong spirit, frequently gathering a friend or family member for a quick road trip or adding a new splash of décor to her home. After raising her daughters Germaine went on to teach pre-school at San Carlos Recreation Department and worked at Ampex Corporation in the 1980s and 1990s in various departments until settling in with a beloved team at the Ampex Credit Union. She loved learning and taking on new challenges at work and truly enjoyed her co-workers, many of which went on to be life-long dear friends. Germaine and Jerry were an integral part of their grandchildren’s lives. They were the most devoted grandparents and welcomed their grandchildren’s friends into their arms with the same love and care they did to all family. They enjoyed taking the grandkids to Burton Park and County Fairs, and vacations in Disneyland and Hawaii. Fun times and laughter was their grandparent ‘mantra’. ‘Non’ as Germaine was called by many was always there with a warm smile, kind advice and ice cream cones! Germaine is survived by daughters Pam Krudop (Doug) and Diane Ziesing (Todd), grandchildren Stephanie Anderson (Gary), Courtnie Harmon (Sean), Griggs Ziesing, and Jack Ziesing and great grandchildren Addison Anderson, Austin Anderson, Devynn Harmon, and Grady Harmon. And many extended family and friends. Germaine is beloved and will live in the hearts and souls of all she touched. Please join us in a Celebration of Germaine’s Life, Sunday, November 20th, 12pm at the San Carlos Adult Community Center, 601 Chestnut Street, San Carlos. In lieu of flowers Germaine has requested donations be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research https://www.michaeljfox.org, Parkinson’s Disease Foundation www.pdf.org, and Joubert Syndrome & Related Disorders Foundation www.jsrdf.org The family would like to thank her many caregivers over the years and the special teams at Sunrise of Belmont, Pathways Hospice, Mission Hospice and Retirement Plus of San Carlos who cared for her in her final months.