Obituary of Geraldine Warnke
Geraldine passed away peacefully July 2nd, 2018 after being suddenly admitted to Richmond General Hospital for septic shock only four days earlier. She is survived by her husband Allan and sister Marilyn Patricia Byers (Stone) and father Victor Byers, and was the youngest of three sisters in her family, Veronica Rosemary Byers (who passed away in 2010) being the oldest.
Geraldine grew up in Toronto and Montreal , graduating from high school at St. Joseph ’s Morrow Park in Toronto . AS a high school student, she and her class toured Europe one summer and in 1962, she travelled across Canada with her parents and Veronica by CPR Passenger train to Vancouver and then on a cruise ship to Alaska.
Geraldine taught elementary school in Ontario . Later she was a science librarian at York University and then a librarian in North York for several years. A graduate of York University , she also studied at the University of Toronto and earned a diploma at UBC. She was also a Distinguished Toastmaster.
She met her husband Allan at a friend’s wedding in Toronto and they were married in August 1977. When Allan accepted an offer from UBC in 1981, they moved to British Columbia , later settling in South Richmond after returning from Oxford in 1986. After retiring from teaching, she volunteered with the SOS Children’s Village, the Vancouver Symphony and Richmond ’s Caring Place . She was a great politician’s spouse when Allan was elected as a Liberal MLA in 1991. And she always had time to see the bunnies that ran to her on her walks.
For the past two decades, they attended conferences worldwide. London , Paris and Washington DC were always highlights. But Geraldine’s favourite was southern California , especially the many times they stayed at the Beverly Hilton with a suite at poolside and having lunch nearby at the Polo Lounge.
On June 28th, she suddenly became ill and was taken to RGH where she passed away. While the family is shocked, they still want to express their special thanks to the ambulance crew who first responded so quickly as well as RGH Emergency and the care by the ICU staff who attended her. Kearney Funeral Service in Vancouver and R.S. Kane Funeral Home in North York are involved with the arrangements. Service will be at Blessed Trinity Church (3220 Bayview Ave.) in Toronto on July 21st at 10:30 am (10:00 am for viewing), followed by burial at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Thornhill, Ontario.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Geraldine
Mary
Warnke Monday July 2 2018.source
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario