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It is with heavy and grateful hearts we announce the passing of Gina, a devoted mother, loving wife, admired grandmother, cherished sister and aunt, lifelong friend, and general force of nature. Over the span of 50+ years, she was a dedicated nurse, internationally renowned professor and researcher, and compassionate family therapist. She is survived by her children, Joseph A. III (Emma Corosky) and Dillon T. (Tracey Goddard), and grandchildren (Frederick Joseph, Greta Lilian). Gina was preceded in her journey to heaven by the love of her life, dedicated husband, and best friend of over forty years, Joseph (“Jay”) A. II, (1930-2013), who passed peacefully at home in a very similar fashion, after Christmas. Gina was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, daughter of Robert (“Bob”) Edmund Bohn (b. 1920) and Juliette Joseph Bisig (b. 1917). She had six remarkable brothers, survived by Robert (Judy), Charles (Martha), Nicholas, and John, and was predeceased by Michael and George. Gina was also one of six vivacious sisters, survived by Dorothy, Margaret, Elizabeth (Robert), and Rita (John), and predeceased by Juliette. She had 22 nieces and nephews, and 21 grand-nieces and grand-nephews. As a girl in Louisville, Gina attended Presentation Academy college-preparatory high school, followed by Spalding University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. By the end of her studies in Louisville, Gina had found her professional and spiritual calling, caring for the sick and downtrodden while supporting dignity, health, and well-being. As such, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts, to complete a Master of Science in Nursing. Here, she met a life-long friend who invited her to Canada, joining the Faculty of Nursing at McMaster University in 1971. She met her husband (Jay) at McMaster University who had providentially and independently immigrated from Kentucky (Ashland) after leaving the priesthood and was working as a psychiatric social worker. Married in 1974, Gina and Jay pursued doctoral studies together at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. For the rest of their lives, they had a spectacular and cherished network of friends who became the de facto “Canadian Family”. Gina spent her career as a Professor in the School of Nursing at McMaster University, using sharp clinical insights from decades of nursing and family therapy to inform paradigm changing programs of prevention, intervention, and clinical science. A lifelong pragmatist, utilitarian, and exponent of social welfare, she was especially invested in devising and evaluating programs that “worked better and cost less”, particularly for vulnerable families who relied on both health and social services. Championing models of “integrated care”, she founded the Health and Social Service Utilization Research Unit in 1991, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and directed by Gina for the next 25 years, where she had the joy of working alongside brilliant colleagues and friends, mostly women. Garnering $25 million in research funding, Gina has been awarded the field’s highest distinctions, including the Health Promotion and Innovation Award of Excellence from the Canadian Institute of Child Health, and the Parks and Recreation Ontario President’s Award of Distinction. She was the 2005 recipient of the National Award for Excellence in Nursing Research from the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. In 2009, Gina received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) for addressing social inequality through nursing. In September 2010, Gina was awarded the Champion of Human Services Award from the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association in recognition of her significant impact on services at municipal, provincial, and federal levels. In 2012, she gave the opening keynote to the Canadian Nurses Association on healthcare transformation and was inducted as a Fellow into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. In 2013, she received the Excellence through Evidence Award of the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement. Gina retired as Professor Emeritus in 2015. In 2019, she was inducted into the McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences Community of Distinction, identified as “a distinguished researcher, scholar and educator” whose work “improved lives of countless individuals and their families”. Her approach has been applied across Canada and the globe. Gina mentored many students of nursing and clinical science and spent 40 years working as a family therapist in primary care. Following an illustrious career, she dedicated her life to reading, playing the piano, spirituality, faith, mindfulness meditation, family, and her famous Log Cabin, where she held the annual Kentucky Derby party, which marked her wedding anniversary with Jay. With grace, strength, acceptance, gratitude, humour, and dignity, she eventually became a humble recipient of the very healthcare services she helped to shape. Gina was also a longstanding parishioner of Holy Rosary Church. Visitation and tributes at SMITH’S FUNERAL HOME, 1167 Guelph Line (one stop light north of QEW), BURLINGTON (905-632-3333) on Thursday, January 5, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. Tributes at 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, 287 Plains Rd. E, Burlington, on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 10 a.m. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, a gift to Big Brothers and Big Sisters would be appreciated (haltonhamilton.bigbrothersbig sisters.ca/donate/, infoHH@bigbrothersbigsisters.c a, 905-525-3860).
“From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required.” – Luke 12:48
Sunday January 1st 2023
Death notice for the town of: , Province: Ontario
death notice Regina Maria Gina Browne RN Ed PhD Bohn Sunday January 1st 2023
obituaries notice Regina Maria Gina Browne RN Ed PhD Bohn Sunday January 1st 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Regina Maria Gina Browne RN Ed PhD Bohn Sunday January 1st 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
