Born November 9, 1911, Genevera Elizabeth Bauernschmidt's life spanned nearly a century until her death May 24, 2011.

In the chill of November on the homestead in Alberta, Canada, the itinerant country doctor attended the birth of Genevera, first child of Harry and Minerva Brown. Her earliest years were spent helping with chores: feeding the horses, cows, pigs, and chickens, and helping her mother cook for the farm hands, wash and iron, and milk the cows without the help of electricity or machines.

In 1918, she and her family, including her younger brother Harold, journeyed to San Bernadino, California where her father built boxcars for the war effort. After the war, the family returned to Alberta to give farming under harsh Canadian weather conditions another try. Despite blizzards, drying Chinooks, and drought, Genevera took pleasure in the memories of her childhood on the farm.

She and her brother, Harold, rode their horse to school, carrying their lunch in a pail and some grain for their horse. She fondly remembered community barn gatherings with delicious homemade food and local musical entertainment, and her favorite ice skating on the pond.

After completing her 11th grade year, the family moved to Los Angeles, California where she graduated from Compton High in 1929. Genevera completed nurses training in 1934 working in Barlows Tuberculosis Sanatorium and Children's Hospital in Hollywood and then went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing Arts from the University of California, Berkeley in 1943. She remained in northern California to teach nursing at the University of California, San Francisco.

A move to Santa Barbara, California in 1945 began a significant life change for her. Through mutual friends, Genevera met Henry Bauernschmidt and they were married June 17, 1947. After staying home to raise their three girls, Genevera returned to work for 10 years as a school nurse in the Hope School District.

Following her retirement, Genevera and Henry enjoyed traveling abroad and visiting their six grandchildren. When Henry passed away in 1999, she moved to Vista del Monte Retirement Center in Santa Barbara. Later, to be near family, she moved to Valley Terrace Assisted Living in White River Junction, Vermont, which was her home until her death May 24, 2011 at the age of 99.

She is survived by three daughters, Susan, Vicki, and Jodi, and their families: Susan and Bill Ward of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and their children Elizabeth and Elliot Ward; Vicki and Ned Shafer of Walla Walla, Washington and their children Anna and Trisha. Trisha and Paul Lavelle, are parents of great-grandchild Kade Elijah Lavelle; Jodi and George Turner of Hartford, Vermont and their children Asa and Finnie. Finnie and Josh Trimpi are parents of great-grandchildren Madelyn and Henry.