Gertrude "Geri" Sylvia Gosse

Born in Marcelin Saskatchewan on 09 May 1941, Geri was the last born of her father’s 13 children, and her mother’s 7. She spent her early childhood on the family farm, later moving into the town of Marcelin once her father retired. She was educated in Crown Hill and Marcelin, eventually attending a boarding school in St. Norbert, Manitoba for her grade 10 year, and following which she entered the convent of the Grey Nuns in St. Boniface, MB. She concurrently undertook religious studies along with senior high school courses. She completed nursing training in Regina, Saskatchewan following which she made her perpetual vows to the Catholic religious life. After working in Fort Frances, Ontario for two years, she made the decision to leave the religious life and requested and was granted a dispensation to release her from her vows. She often said she had no regrets for having left, and also did not regret the time she had spent in the convent. She moved to Edmonton Alberta and worked as a nurse.

In 1968 she met Gordon Gosse of Whitbourne, Newfoundland, where he was serving as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces with the Airborne Regiment. They were married on the 4th of October 1969 and spent the following 37 years making marriage look deceptively easy. They were absolutely content with each other; best friends and life partners in every aspect of their lives. Every promotion or accolade Dad received was openly credited by him as attainable only through her faithful support, and every achievement of hers was celebrated by him without reservation – they were a true team and provided a high standard for what a happy marriage looks like – one filled with partnership, acceptance, forgiveness, patience, and unwavering commitment.

Given the nature of Dad’s job, they moved often and spent time in Edmonton AB, Holberg BC, Petawawa ON, Corner Brooke NFLD, Calgary AB, Barrie ON, Chilliwack BC, Trenton ON, and finally retired back in Chilliwack BC. Mom took each move in stride, finding positives in each new home, and she developed the fine art of unpacking and settling into each new home within days of arrival. Along the way they welcomed two children: Robert was born in 1971, and daughter Nicole followed in 1973.

Mom and Dad combined a love of golf and travel, enjoying trips throughout Canada and the United States where they could follow the sun and book a tee time. The time spent planning the next adventure was as much fun to them as the doing of it and they even spent the better part of year in the United Kingdom during the late ‘90s working and travelling. Gord’s death in 2008 was a devastating blow. Aside from a few more trips to Arizona and a one amazing world cruise, she spent the remaining 15 years of her life quietly with family and friends in the Chilliwack and Abbotsford BC area.

Mom will be remembered for her love of family, her devotion to her Roman Catholic faith, her sense of humour and her gentle manner. She was industrious with needlework skills and spent a lot of time quilting, sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She took great pride in her career as a Registered Nurse. She was a skilled golfer and one of the high points of her life was making a hole in one during a tournament in 2008.

Geri is predeceased by her husband and great love, Gordon Gosse, her parents Adeoda and Madeline (nee Greyeyes) Desjardins, siblings Reginald Desjardins, and Cecile Jullion, and all of her half-siblings: Blanche Hyde, Joseph Desjardins, Therese Legoffe, Philip Desjardins, Anna Carlson, and Gerald Desjardins. She is survived by her son Robert (Kerry Kershaw) Gosse of Ottawa Ontario, and daughter Nicole (Mike) Allen of Abbotsford British Columbia. She was beloved of her grandchildren Henry Wells of Charlottetown PEI, Hayden Vandenbrink of Fort St. John BC, Seamus Vandenbrink of Abbotsford BC, and Morgan Allen of Abbotsford BC. Also survived by her siblings Laurette Maxwell of Maple Ridge BC, Vince Desjardins of Hinton AB, Marie (Andy) Casavant of Chase BC, and Lucille McMaster of Winnipeg MB.

Funeral Mass was held on Tuesday the 19th of September 2023 at St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church in Abbotsford BC. Donations to the Abbotsford Clearbrook Library are most gratefully accepted in her name in lieu of flowers.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hendersonsabbotsfordfunerals.com for the Gosse family.