Geraldine Kaufmann

Geraldine "Geri" Phillips Kaufmann, 92, of Erie, passed away Sunday, June 14, 2026 at Niagara Village where she was well known for being feisty and spending way too many hours laying out in the sun as she always did when she was young growing up on 22nd street across from Roosevelt School. Living there also gave her the opportunity to spend many a day on the Ainsworth Tennis courts where she became one of the top players in the city. She and her sister Olga played against each other in the city championships where Olga would prevail. Geri never did live that down. Being the youngest of seven children, being born on August 11, 1933, of the late Angelo and Evelyn (Ziroli) Phillips was a spot that Geri held dear. She was the one everyone adored and the older siblings often shared stories of having to take little Geri on dates and outings with friends. Geri had wonderful relationships with all of her siblings and their families. They included Ange and Dom Orlando, Anita and Fiorenzo "Skinny" Riazzi, Nelle and Al Acquaro, Anthony and Claudia Phillips, Olga and Joe Bilotti and Doug and Sandy Phillips. All of her siblings and their spouses are waiting with open arms for her in heaven along with her wonderful husband of 58 years Richard "Dick" Kaufmann, Sr; her sons-in law Ray Nietupski and Patrick McDonald; and her brother-in-law Charlie Kaufmann. Her nieces Beverly Raimondi, Sandra Golobish, Lu Acquaro, Debbie Phillips and her nephew Vinnie Orlando were very dear to her as well and preceded her in death. 

Geri graduated from Strong Vincent High School as part of the class of 1951 and worked at First National bank retiring in 1992. During her working years she was active in helping others volunteering at the Erie Blind Center doing pre-school vision screenings and teaching CCD at St. Julia church. On Friday nights you could always find Geri and Dick playing cards with friends or family. They played anything from rummy, to hand and foot, to poker. They also enjoyed many winters in Florida, trips to Las Vegas, Italy, and San Francisco and held season tickets to the Erie Playhouse for many years. Geri continued playing cards throughout her entire life, playing rummy almost daily with her boyfriend Dale Ellis, who will miss her dearly, and 5 Crowns with her other friends at Niagara Village. Geri was a member of the Montenero Ladies Society, Red Hats by the Bay and the Erie Elks Lodge #67 Ladies Auxiliary where she was their financial secretary for 8 years. 

Holding memories of Geri tight are her daughter Gwen Nietupski McDonald and her family Daniel Nietupski, and his wife Allison, his boys Nolan and Vance; Mallory and Jamie Riazzi and their boys Logan Nietupski and Dominic Riazzi; Amanda and Ryan Andrus and their girls Alaina, Emme and Avery and Laurie and Daniel Swindlehurst and their children Caleb and Ivanna, daughter and son in law Gloria and Bill Herlihy and their children Bridget and Hunter Truitt and Brennan Herlihy and son and daughter in law Richard Kaufmann, Jr and Kim with their children Megan, Morgan and Bryce. Sister-in-law Joan Kaufmann and many nieces and nephews also will miss Geri in their lives. 

Friends are invited to call on Friday, June 19, 2026 at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, 2122 Raspberry Street, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and may attend a Funeral Mass on Saturday at Our Lady of Peace Church, 2401 West 38th Street, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Erie Elks Lodge #67, 2409 Peninsula Dr., Erie, PA 16506.