Geraldine Frances Harris

Dec 28, 1945 – Nov 15, 2024

“Our songbird sings with the Angels now”

A most beautiful Mother and Angel on Earth, Geraldine Frances Harris (née Browne), aged 78, passed peacefully away on the morning of November 15, 2024, at North York General Hospital in Toronto, ON, with devoted loved ones by her side. Born on December 28, 1945, in St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, Geraldine, also affectionately known as “Gerri”, dedicated her life to her family, friends, and community, touching the lives of many with her nurturing spirit and joyful presence.

Gerri proudly worked as a dental assistant in St. John's before taking the long journey to Toronto in her early years for a medical procedure. After meeting the love of her life in the Toronto hospital during that trip, she returned home to continue support for her beloved parents at the home she loved on Carters Hill Rd. for a few more years before eventually returning to Ontario to marry and embark on her most cherished role, that of being a full-time mother to her two darling daughters, a responsibility she embraced with endless love and devotion.

For many years, even as she lived with the progressive challenges of visual and hearing impairment, Gerri was an active member of her community and devoted wife and mother, often enjoying bowling with members of the CNIB, picnics at Lithuanian Park with Lorne and the children, baking her legendary coconut snowballs and date squares, daily home-cooked meals, fun and creative birthdays with games and prizes for the kids, years of summertime memories at Fenelon Falls and at the cottage in Rosedale on Balsam Lake, and in later years when the kids had grown, venturing out into the community with Jasper, her beloved Hearing Ear Dog and the support of Intervenors to do her shopping, banking, and daily errands. Gerri grew up with a love of music, and throughout the years would love to sing songs from her many favorites, including Elvis, The Beatles, John Denver, Perry Como, The Carpenters, Mamas and the Papas, Julie Andrews (“The Sound of Music”), her cherished religious hymns, and beloved Christmas Carols, no matter what the season! Always thinking of others and a proud and ever-caring Momma, she dedicated her life to raising her beautiful family and creating fun memories that would last a lifetime, a testament to her caring and selfless nature.

In her earlier years, Gerri had fond memories of worshipping at The Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and after moving to Ontario would join the parishes of St. Jane Frances and St. Philip Neri, where she found great solace and spiritual fulfillment and was devoted to her Roman Catholic faith.

Gerri is survived by her loving family: her daughter Jane (Eric) Harris-St. Amand, ex-husband Lorne (Jackie) Harris, niece Susan Vaughan, nephew Ken (Brenda) Vaughan, nephew Steven (Andrea) Vaughan, nephew Robert (Jeannette) Vaughan, nieces Margaret Gillen and Ruthie Deffett, sister-in-law Belle (Des) Browne, sister-in-law Theresa (Kevin) Browne, sister-in law Norma (Stan) Woodside, brother-in-law Bill (Liz) Harris, sister-in-law Reine Beaulieu (Robert) Harris and many dear friends, including long-time neighbour and devoted friend, Nazar Strejko, Amanda Holmes (best friend to daughter Susan since childhood), loving friend Queenie Chong, and Norma Ilic (dear Godmother to daughter Susan) . She was preceded in death by her precious and youngest daughter Susan Harris, parents Henry and Nellie Browne, sister Joan (Hubert) Vaughan, brothers Des (Belle) Browne and Kevin (Theresa) Browne, sister-in-law Ruth (Norm) Deffett, and several other loving sisters- and brothers-in law.

An extra special and heartfelt thanks to Jenny Choi, dedicated CHKC Intervenor, friend, and lead of “Gerri’s Team”, who cared deeply for ‘her girl, Geraldine’, and protected and supported her closely for more than 8 years in long-term care (LTC) and up until her final breaths and beyond. Deepest and sincerest thanks to Rotary Cheshire Homes and The Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) for over 25+ years of joy and the enabling of independent living for the deafblind at 422 Willowdale, and to the many years of service, kindness, friendship, love and support of the devoted Intervenors from CHKC even as an outreach consumer in LTC. The family also wishes to thank the staff of SCU/BSU and 3 South at Cummer Lodge LTC Home for their years of special and complex care, and to the warm and wonderful 3 West Palliative Care staff and physicians at North York General for their compassionate care at the most vulnerable time at end-of-life, and for supporting and guiding her family and friends just as gently and respectfully to ensure that her final moments were lived out with the dignity and grace she so rightly deserved.

In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate for memorial donations to be made to the Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC), the organization closest to Gerri's heart that had allowed her to live independently in her community for so many happy and wonderful years and who have been there for her, like family, until the end. Donations can be made at https://www.chkc.org/. A Celebration of Life will be planned to take place at CHKC at a later date.

Gerri’s legacy of love, gentle kindness, good humour, and wit, her ‘beautiful dimples’, and humble generosity will forever be cherished and remembered by those who had the privilege of knowing her.

May she sing loud and proud forever with the Angels in eternal and restful Peace.