Awards Awards Oliverie awarded OGR's highest honor G eraldine “Geri” Oliverie of Oliverie Funeral Home in Manchester Township, New Jersey, was the recipient of the 2021 Golden Light Award at the inaugural Golden Circle Celebration April 29. LIGHT AWARD Honoring Professional Excellence The Golden Light Award is OGR’s highest honor, recognizing an individual who has made specific, meritorious contributions to society through his or her profession, community or field of voluntary service as career achievements. “I would like to thank my hardworking staff that supports all my endeavors within the community,” Oliverie said in her acceptance speech. “The dedication and long hours required to make all of our community service projects work effortlessly are a true commitment to the profession they also have dedicated themselves to.” Geraldine "Geri" Oliverie (photo provided) Jersey in 2015, was recognized by American Funeral Director magazine as their Funeral Director of the Year in 2020, and is a charter member of the Funeral Ethics Association. Geraldine "Geri" Oliverie at Oliverie Funeral Home's flu vaccination clinic in Manchester, N.J. in 2020. (photo provided) This award is a true sign of continued dedication to her profession and community. Oliverie has received OGR’s Community Service Award twice, first in 2015 and again in 2019. She was also named Humanitarian of the Year by the American Cancer Society in New Oliverie Funeral Home, which she first opened in 1987, hosts a flu vaccination clinic every year in September and a blood drive every April, and is a platinum sponsor of both Manchester Day and the Lakehurst Fleet Reserve Summer Olympics. Oliverie’s latest venture is the business’s new Life www.ogr.org | The Independent® 27
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