Gertrude Sanderson (née Kearns) passed away
peacefully on June 11, 2021, at St. Martha’s Regional
Hospital, Antigonish.
Born in London, Ontario on April 20, 1936, she was the
daughter of the late Dr. Thomas Phillip and Helen (Koehler)
Kearns.
Gertrude attended Western University, and in 1960 married the
love of her life, George. Together they travelled and studied in
Europe prior to settling in Antigonish.
Gertrude taught French and Spanish at St. Francis Xavier
University in the Department of Modern Languages and served as
Department Head for ten years prior to her retirement. For over thirty
years Gertrude and George worked tirelessly in producing The
Antigonish Review since its inception in 1969, with she becoming
managing editor and George editor in 1980. Gertrude was an
accomplished translator and was awarded the F.R. Scott Translation
Award in 1986 for her French to English translation of Jacques
Brault‘s Within The
Mystery.
Gertrude was a passionate scholar and teacher with intense
interest in her students. Her love and passion extended outward to
others, her extended family, and many friends. Her intellectual focus
was broad and earnest. Gertrude loved nothing more than a good
discussion on a multitude of subjects. Her greatest gift in this
respect was her ability to facilitate spirited
dialogue.
Gertrude was predeceased by her loving husband George Stephen
Sanderson in 2005. Vital and loving to the end, Gertrude leaves behind
her two sons, Eric and fiancée Megan Provost, Toronto; and
Brendan, Antigonish; granddaughter, Candace; brother Tom Kearns and
family; close cousin, Joan MacKinny; stepmother, Betty Dirks;
stepsister, Mary Dallon; brother-in-law, Stephen Sanderson and spouse
Nancy; sister-in-law, Géri McLean (née
Sanderson) and spouse Robert “Bud”; and brother-in-law,
Stanley Mizgala;
Besides her husband, she is predeceased by sister-in-law,
Sylvia Mizgala (née Sanderson).
There is no funeral scheduled at this time.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Gertrude Sanderson 1936 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Antigonish, Province: Nova Scotia