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GENEVA – Melissa OConnell’s grandmother-in-law, Catherine, was a huge fan of Christmas.

“She celebrated Christmas huge,” recalled OConnell.
“She really, really, really loved Christmas. Every room was decorated. Every room had a tree,” she said.
Christmas was such an influence on family life that her daughter, Judy OConnell, decided to try to sell some Christmas-type things at Sand’s Mobile Sales in Madison, during the off season.
That eventually lead to the finding of a house on Route 20 in Geneva that Judy converted into Catherine’s Christmas, a memorial to her mother. Catherine died before seeing the store that opened in September 1994, close to a quarter of a century ago.
Judy ran the shop that caters to gifts for all occasions, not just Christmas. When she died after 10 years running the business, her daughter-in-law, Melissa, starting running the business at 910 E. Main St. She is helped by her daughter, Hillary Jeschelnig.
“It took her a few years to find this place with all of the room. We have gifts, not just for Christmas, but gifts for every occasion,” OConnell said.
“We have items for Thanksgiving, Halloween, graduations, birthdays. We have a lot of one-of-a-kind items, which is why we have layaways,” she said.
There are three Geneva-on-the-Lake Christmas tree ornaments that can be personalized, Jeschelnig said.
She said some families personalize yearly ornaments from the shop as a family tradition.
OConnell said, “Everything we have does not have Christmas in it. We have spring stuff, collectibles lines, Jim Shore willow trees figurines,” she said.
The store has lots of nativity sets, Santas and snowmen, a children’s toy section, gifts
for dogs and cats, a section with military items, wilderness and yes, you will see a Big Foot sighting.
OConnell said there is always a room of closeouts, with items half off.
“We see regulars come through here. We ask, ‘How are the little ones,’ only to find they are married with their own children,” OConnell said.
Hillary used to play with the cardboard boxes the merchandise came in.
There’s gifts for weddings, anniversaries, other celebrations. “We try to hit them all, “OConnell said.
She has great admiration for her late mother-in-law. “She sure came up with a wonderful business model. We try our best to keep her vision going.”
The business plans a mini-carnival July 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with activities for kids, opportunities for adults and a raffle. Proceeds benefit the Geneva Food Bank. Canned goods can be brought to the event as well.
The store is open through July on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours begin expanding in August through Christmas, including being open on Sundays. You can follow the store on Facebook at CatherinesChristmas.ohio.
Melissa thinks Judy continues to watch over the shop she created. They subscribe to the “Pennies from heaven” belief that people who have died let the living know they are OK by leaving new pennies where they can be found.
Melissa talks about cleaning up around the service counter one day, leaving nothing there. The next day when they open, three or four pennies are found.
“I can’t ignore it,” she said.

PHOTO BY ROBERT LEBZELTER
Hillary Jeschelnig (left) and her mother, Melissa OConnell, operate Catherine’S Christmas at 910 E. Main St., Geneva.
Christmas a year-long event at Geneva store