Eugenie Mendis Obituary

Eugenie Rose Mendis

April 18, 1925 - July 5, 2025

Boston, Massachusetts - Eugenie Rose Mendis, age 100, died peacefully on July 5, 2025. She enjoyed a life filled with many and varied interests, and surrounded by a loving family and friends.

Genie was born in Jamaica, Queens, to immigrants from Bermuda, Eva Geraldine and Eugene Charles Jackson. She was the eldest of four siblings, David, Edith and Owen. Genie graduated from Jamaica High School, and attended Queens College, graduating with a degree in chemistry in 1945. After working several years in the chemistry field, she married Leo Mendis in 1947 and began raising a family. They eventually had four children: Paul, Carol, Brian, and Roger. Genie was never judgmental, and was immensely proud of her children, all of whom graduated college and went on to successful careers.

Twenty years after being awarded her first college degree, Genie obtained a master's degree from City College of New York, and began teaching in the New York City Public Schools. She spent the bulk of her career teaching elementary school at P.S. 202 in Brooklyn, New York. Even though Genie was always activegardening, camping, and bicyclingonce she retired to Miami, Florida, in 1988, she continued her active life by taking up tennis. She read widely, travelled widely, and loved music.

Genie cared deeply about her family, and for decades was caregiver to her elderly parents, sick husband and daughter. In a testament to the powerful impact she had on those around her, 85 people came from all over the country to celebrate her 100th birthday, where she said: "We are all here together today because of love. I love you all. Thank you for coming."

Eugenie leaves son Paul and wife Nancy, son Brian and wife Robin, son Roger and wife Caron; grandchildren Lisa, Tanya and husband Tony, Nora and husband Sam, Elena and husband Matt, Kamali, Miles, and Mattias; and great granddaughters Autumn, Lena, Amaru, Lerato, and Niobe. Genie's husband of 54 years, Leo, daughter Carol, and grandson Gregory predeceased her. Passing of Life Ceremony will be held at Roy L. Gilmore's Funeral Home, 191-02 Linden Blvd. St. Albans, New York, beginning with a visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11:30 a.m., followed by interment at Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum.