Geraldine Marien Redmond

REDMOND, Geraldine Marien (O’Sullivan) - At 8:45 pm on Father’s Day, a welcome home party, complete with rolling thunder and forks of lightning, could be heard from heaven. The guest of honour, Geraldine Marien Redmond (O’Sullivan), fondly remembered by many as ‘Lulu’, was greeted with open arms by her loving husband Bill Redmond and their eldest daughter Mary Lou, with the heart felt words, “What took you so long?!”

Mom was born in Halifax, N.S. on July 8, 1923. She was the beloved daughter of the late Martha and Wilfred O’Sullivan. Mom graduated from St. Patrick’s Girl’s School at the top her class and went on to work at Dunn and Brad St. until her and Dad began their family in 1946. She was a life long advocate for the mentally challenged and dedicated much time and effort into improving the lives of differently able individuals. We are very proud that Mom fought to institute changes in the daily lives of, not only, her own daughter, Nora, but many others. For instance, Mom made the change in her church, which enabled Nora to make her First Holy Communion with her friends and sisters, paving the way for other mentally challenged children to follow.

Her faith provided her with a resilience that allowed her to smile through laughter and sorrow, always acting as the guiding light for her family and friends. Mom was actively involved in her community parishes and was a founding member of St. Catherine’s church, organizing bingos to raise funds to build the new church in the fifties. She was an active member of the CWL for many years and also canvassed tirelessly for the Canadian Cancer Society, The Canadian Association for Community Living (formerly CAMR), and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, in addition to supporting many overseas missions. Always a nurturer, she will long be remembered for the generosity of heart and spirit of kindness which she showed to everyone she met.

Throughout mom’s life her greatest joy and accomplishment was the family she and Dad made together. The unconditional love she held for her ‘girls’, her grand children and her great grandchildren is an inspiration to us all. Mom is survived by her grand daughter Heather Louise, daughter of Gary and her beloved Mary Lou and Heather’s children Alex and Kassie; daughter, Joann, and husband John MacCallum of Bedford, N.S., their children and partners, Laura and David, Andy and Alice, Robby and Sonja and Barry and Kaye and their grand children (Laura and David) Dustin, James, Allister and Jessica; daughter, Nora of Halifax, N.S.; daughter, Pamela of Cape Breton, N.S. and her children Cai and wife Erin, Keely and Cailin; daughter, Lisa and her husband David Leblanc, Prospect Bay, N.S. and their children Olivia, William and Nicholas; and daughter, Jennifer and her husband Brian, Lower Sackville, N.S. and girls Mary and Julia. She is also survived by; her devoted sister, Marion Walker (Bruce), fondly known as ‘Bubbles’.

Mom was predeceased by much loved son in law Earle Wadden (Pamela) and their infant daughter Aislinn; brothers, Arthur (in infancy), Freddie, Wipper and Tommy; sisters, Dottie and Diddie.

Heartfelt thanks are extended to the staff at Victoria Hall, Arbourstone Enhanced Care, Parkstone Enhanced Care (Citadel Court), for the tender loving care they showered on mom, we are forever grateful. In addition, to staff in the Emergency Room and Coronary Care Unit (that’s you Tim and Erin ) at the Halifax Infirmary, thanks so much for understanding our own special brand of humour, and for helping us guide mom on her final journey on this earth.

If you would like to visit with Mom and her family, please come Thursday, June 24th, 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. to J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Dr., Halifax. Celebration of her life will be Friday, June 25th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Catherine’s Church on Bayer's Rd., burial to follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lower Sackville, N.S. A reception will follow burial at 18 Mill Court, Bedford, N.S. In the spirit of Mom’s generosity, everyone is welcome. Donations may be made to a charity of your choice, Canadian Cancer Society or Alzheimer’s Society. Please visit www.jasnowfuneralhome.com

No more worries Ma, you can rest easy; we know God has made room for his favoured daughter. We love you so much mom, ‘a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck’.