Geraldine Frances “Geri” Ross
1922-2022
Geraldine Frances
“Geri” Ross died peacefully on October 22, 2022, in
Wedgewood House, Kentville, just a few months following her
100th birthday. She was surrounded by the
caring staff of Wedgewood House, her loving niece, Joan Gee, as well
as her good friend Lynne Underhill.
Geri was
born in Centreville, Nova Scotia on May 6, 1922 to Jessie Blanche
Rogers Garron Ross and Austin Hubert Ross. The family, including
12-year-old half-sister, Marg Garron, moved to Kentville while Geri
was still a baby. Kentville was her home throughout her long life,
except for a few years during and after the war when she resided in
Halifax.
Geri
graduated from Kings County Academy and then from Mack Business
College. She took a job at the Lord Nelson Hotel in Halifax but
returned to Kentville after a few years to help her father care for
her mother who had taken ill. After her mother’s death she
continued to manage the family home on Caldwell Avenue until after her
father passed away in 1959. She was employed at T.P. Calkin Hardware
Store and later at the Sanatorium. She went on to have a lengthy
career at Valley Regional Hospital until her
retirement.
Geri
lived her life with dignity. She had an excellent memory, a wonderful
sense of humour, a ready laugh, and was a congenial and much-loved
friend to many. She continued to walk as her mode of transportation,
even as automobiles became popular throughout the valley. She set out
in all weather for errands, to visit friends or to climb the hill to
the hospital daily throughout her working years. Passers-by often gave
her a lift in rain and snow, catching her attention by slowing down
and calling out her name from the car window to offer her a
ride.
Any
occasion was better when Geri was there. She was an affectionate aunt
and great-aunt, dearly loved by her extended family. She visited
family members and friends in British Columbia and in Ontario as well
as her Nova Scotia relatives and friends. We all valued her sincere
interest in our lives and well-being and her gifts as a
conversationalist.
Music,
in particular Opera, was Geri’s great love. In her apartment
on Belcher Street and then in her home on Prince Street where she
lived until 2019, she had a radio in every room, all tuned into CBC
classical music and opera! In her eighties, Geri travelled to New York
City, accompanied by her niece, Joan. They had a tour of the
Metropolitan Opera House, attended three operas, and saw a few shows
on Broadway. It was a dream come true. Geri also loved to find unusual
news stories and photos in the papers. It was always a treat to
receive mail from her complete with clippings of interesting articles
from the press.
St.
James Anglican has been Geri’s church throughout her life
and into death. For many decades she sang soprano in the church choir
and participated in church – sponsored bible study and book
discussion groups. Geri’s church fellowship was very
important to her, just as she was to her church. Her ashes will lie in
a niche in the Church’s memorial area, as Geri herself said,
“surrounded by my church
family”.
Geri was
predeceased by her parents; brother, William “Bill”
Ross; half-sister, Marguerite (George) Garron Grey; and brother-in-law
and friend, Philip Etter. She is survived by her sister, Phyllis Etter
(nee Ross), 98, of Belleville, ON; sister-in-law and friend, Jenny
Keating of Bedford; niece and nephew-in-law, Joan and John Gee of
Coldbrook (formerly of Kentville); nieces, Pat (Ray) Staratt of
Timberlea, Carolyn Ketcheson (Ian Sutherland) of Belleville, ON and
Pamela (Allan) Rose of Burnaby, BC; as well as several grand nieces
and nephews.
The
family wishes to thank the staff at Wedgewood House for the kind care
and attention that Geri received in recent years, especially in her
final days.
Cremation has taken place and there
will be no visitation. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m.
on Thursday, October 27, 2022 in St. James Anglican Church, Kentville.
Reverend Shirley Cole officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden
of Rest – the Anglican Parish of St. James. For those unable
to attend, a video webcast of the service will be available on-line at
2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28. In lieu of flowers, donations may be
sent to St. James Anglican Church, Kentville. Funeral
arrangements have been entrusted to the
White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville. To view
the video webcast or for on-line condolences and inquiries please
visit: www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Geraldine Frances Geri Ross 19222022..
Death notice for the town of: Kentville, Province: Nova Scotia