Thanks to my close friendship with Gail’s Mom and Dad (Jean and Bill) I have known Gail throughout her life.
I have not seen her in a long time but I did know of her health struggles from my brother Fred.  She will be missed terribly by her family because she was the true matriarch of her family, always there for everyone.   My sincere sympathies are with her family and friends.


What a pleasure to know Gail.  She was truly a generous, kind person.  Always interested in what was going on, ready to have a laugh and enjoy whatever the next event was.  I see in the photos the large array of friends and family, a real testament to her good nature and her  love of family and friends.  She will be missed at the yearly Hurst Christmas but I'm sure the conversation will turn to memories of good times shared. 

Gail, may your beautiful soul be at peace. Know that you left a lasting impression on me and so many others you touched.

I had the great privilege of calling you my leader, mentor, role model, and friend.  You always pushed me to get out of my comfort zone.  And you felt proud, like a mother hen, when the results proved you right.  I clearly remember a time when you asked me to take over another presenters presentation, due to a scheduling conflict.  The topic was ISO9000 - newly introduced.  Of course, you could not deliver it because you were a keynote for the same timeslot.  After an hour of coaching, I delivered the session with a spin that fit what I knew.  Results definitely positive - got asked to come back and speak again.  

We worked hard, played hard, but most of all, you created a family environment for your Contact Center Team. You  showed me by leading by example. I took your model and have used it to help others to develop further and love what they do.  Thank you.

God bless.  I will miss you.

Dear Gail,
You were such a delight to work with at Nortel.  No artifice, just a sharp mind (and a mouth to match!).  I especially remember the long conversations on many topics, and all the laughs!!  I imagine you are up in heaven organizing how things are run as I send this note.
Rest in Peace, Gail.

Flo

I had the privilege of working with Gail at Cisco. She was always helpful, gracious, and kind. She displayed intelligence, wisdom, and authenticity in her work and work relationships and will be fondly remembered by all.

Gail hired a geek engineer at Northern Telecominto into his first marketing  job as a Product Marketing Specialist for Meridian acall Centre.  Gail was a marketing phenom and never took no for an answer and strived for market dominance in our brand from the customer perspective.  Her aggressiveness in marketing was infectious on the rest of the team and in the three years I worked for her we had many successes including Call Centre University or Call U.

Our paths diverged after this as I went about my career in Nortel but we stayed in touch and after I moved back to Canada, Gail visited me and my family at our home in Ottawa.  She related her story of her survival from cancer and how she joked with the doctor that while he might have given up she had not and asked him what would he do if he did not decide to give up, and so on to another round of chemo which became successful for Gail.  I remember her saying at that time “I am not cancer free, I am living with cancer” as she never knew when it might come back.

Her fierceness and competitiveness was exemplified in her battle with cancer.  Now God has said “Gail I am Calling U” and we have another angel looking down on us from heaven.

May she Rest In Peace.  May God bless her family and friends.  She will always be in my thoughts and prayers.

Joe Hickey
Worked for Gail from 1991-1994 in the Meridian Call Centre team

Although I had not seen Gail in many years, I did know of her struggles through her brother Rick. 
A true fighter and a person to be admired, Gail is hopefully in a better place today without suffering and pain.
Our condolences to the entire family.
Phil & Anne Van Impe

Gail

It was my privledge to have had the opportunity to work with you and to experience first had your passion and zest for life!   You set an example for all and a beautiful person in all respects.  Rest In Peace beautiful lady!!   

Patricia

I got to know Gail when we started working together, and our smaller organization was being acquired by a large IT company. Though there was a generational gap, it wasn’t long before Gail became one of my favorite people to work with. She was so smart, it took me a while to realize she was always looking 3, 4 steps ahead of me, and with her years of experience could call out potential problems that others hadn’t even thought of. Without anyone asking, myself included, Gail became a fantastic mentor to me, and help me navigate our large and complex corporate world. She helped me focus on what was really important (life outside of work!). She was patient and let me vent, and then kindly put in me in my place and set me on the correct path forward. But despite this, she always treated me as a peer, though we all would agree she was peerless. And there is nothing that could diffuse a situation, or ease my frustration like her Laugh/Snort/Eye-roll (Done all at once, of course). She was such a trooper, and such a Champion, and I just never thought she would lose. I was looking forward to working with her again, and I am going to miss my work buddy very much.


Gail and I have been friends since Grade 4, we shared some great times growing up. Cottage trips to Port Hope, Labour Day at the CNE, selling shortbread cookies for the CYO hockey team, going to the A&W for $.25 fries, Christmas Eve and Midnight mass, trips to Woodbine. We were very close, I’m so fortunate to have had such a great best friend. 
Rick, Wendy, Michael and Brad, and your families, my heart is filled with sadness for all of you. Heaven just gained another Angel.
Love to all of you,
Diane xo

I was so fortunate to meet Gail through mutual friends. She was the type of girl you could instantly have a connection.  She was funny, caring and a loyal friend to all who knew her. Her love of life, family and friends were so important to her. She fought a courageous battle with never a complaint. 
I will treasure all the wonderful memories of Gail’s visits to Woodstock and girls weekends at Wasaga Beach. 
My heartfelt sympathies to Gail’s family and friends. 
She was truly a one of a kind and I feel so honored to have known her. 

My sincere sympathies to Gail’s family. 
I am so very saddened to hear of her passing. 
Gail was a dear friend whom I had the pleasure of meeting and working with at Nortel in Belleville and beyond as we all moved around in the company. Gail was ALWAYS a supportive team mate and mentor who graciously shared her time, her incredible passion, and her expertise in whatever product line or endeavour we took on. 
But it was Gail’s kind smile and easy laugh I will miss the most. No matter how many years passed she always seemed close by as a dear friend ... always in touch.
Rest In Peace my Dear Friend you will be so missed.
Colin Hawkins and Family

We only knew Gail for 4 years, being new neighbours at the cottage. Gail was immediately welcoming and talkative, and we shared many hours Talking Shop as well as just getting to know each other as neighbours. Throroughly enjoyed the time we had and wish it had been longer. Gail, you will be missed next door.
Condolences to all the family from Juta, Glenn, and Jan.

I had the pleasure of working with Gail at Cisco.  Loved her passion and strategic thinking. She was focused on results and also knew how to tell a story and enjoy a good laugh. Condolences to her family. To her nieces and nephews please know she loved you very much and spoke of you often with joy in her heart through stories about the cottage.  She is already missed.

I had the pleasure of working with Gail at Cisco and getting to know her professionally and personally. Gail was passionate about her work and wanting to do
 what was best for her customers and partners. And I loved that she did not shy away from telling them. Gail also did not hesitate to roll up her sleeves and get things done when you needed her help. She was a caring, compassionate, and fun loving person. We shared some great giggles during our time together at Cisco. Gail will be missed by all of us at Cisco.

Witty, wise and caring.  I had the fortune of meeting Gail a number of years ago through her work at Cisco.  As many have experienced our business relationship evolved into her being one of my favorite people. 

I have always admired  Gail's laser sharp business sense, ability to quickly sort the nonsense from the relevant and her delivery of a humorous antidote for challenging situations. 

Gail,  will miss you dearly and feel privileged to have known you.

Susan Cornish

I knew Gail from her time at Nortel. Such a smart, capable, funny lady. I was so encouraged when she seemed to beat her cancer years ago and came back very strong indeed. Gone too soon. Sad to hear that Gail is no longer with us. 

Gail and I worked together at Nortel during the fast and furious 90s.  Working with Gail was always a pleasure, her expertise, humor, and professionalism made every experience positive.  Her infectious and delightful laugh will stay with me forever.  My sympathies to Gail's family and friends alike, and my deepest appreciation for having the honour to be associated with such a special person.  God Bless.  

I met Gail when she joined Cisco and the Partner Collaboration Team.  We worked closely together and it became apparent very quickly that she had super powers when it came to getting things done!  She was always full of great out of the box ideas and motivating her teams.   It was  so easy to grow fond of her which I quickly did.  We had great conversations and whenever I travelled to Toronto, and stayed at the Westin; she would book her hair appointment (her salon was in the Westin) and we would meet for a bite afterwards.  This is where I really got to know Gail and three things stand out for me;  her immense love for her family;  her amazing group of women friends (she has so many - I often wished I lived closer and maybe could be one of them!); and her stoic battle with illness - I NEVER heard her complain. ever.   She is truly one of a kind and I will miss my her greatly; my love and prayers to her family and friends.  Rest in Peace Queen of Collab; until we meet again.....
Love Mama (her nickname for me) 

My fondest memories of Gail were working at Nortel, where we met 

Gail was creative, postiive, caring and  lots of fun to work with.  She took the time to get to know the teams in marketing and sales including their families.  She never forgot a spouse or child's name.  While in Marketing Gail spearheaded a fantastic initiative named "CALL U".  A  Customer seminar that took the market by storm .  We ran it for weeks on end due to its  popularity. Sales surged.  I still tell this story to my teams and speak fondly of Gail as the idea coach and leader.  .Did you get your CALL U sweatshirt?

She was a smart, caring, kind spirited woman who was exceptionally resilient. Her smile, her laugh and love of  people and the colour pink will live on for me.

I will miss you Gail
Chris(tine) Gauthier

Gail was the sweetest, kindest person one could ever hope to know. For almost 50 years I had the pleasure of calling her my friend. Gail rarely complained about her health. Instead she worried about her large family and her friends. She was always planning another family event at the cottage or Xmas vacations. She had the best friends that anyone could dream for. Her generosity was extraordinary. 
My thoughts are with all the family. This is such sad news. Graham

Gail and I worked together at Cisco and we spent lots of time strategizing and working on common projects. She was a very creative and very supportive. We enjoyed working together. I visited her at her at her home during her recoveries and I was always amazed at her unbelievable fighting power. Gail will be missed by many and I feel honoured to have had the friendship we had. To the family, I wish you all strength to celebrate the memories you had with her, she spoke so fondly of all of you. 
Respectively,
Louis

Louis Ludwick 

My condolences go to Gail's family and friends.

Gail will be missed at Cisco.  She had a knack of developing very strong relationships with partners at Cisco.  She knew what it took for partners to be successful and was never afraid to tell them.    Gail and I shared many laughs over the years and she will be missed as a colleague and friend.  Rest in peace Gail.



I knew Gail as a business partner for many years during her tenure at Nortel.  She was the consummate professional in every respect but also a very warm and caring friend. Throughout my career there are no relationships or associations I cherish more than my business relationship with Gail.  She will be missed but not forgotten by so many whose lives she touched in such a positive way. RIP

So the story has been told many times over. When I was maybe two years old and Gail was four my Mother was scolding Gail for cutting off the curl at the top of her head. Knowing my Mother it was something she took great pleasure in styling for my sister. and likely laboured over fixing here hair each morning. Typical of Gail she immediately turned  to me, wagged her finger and blamed  me for doing it. She even went as far as passing me the scissors or put them into my hands. (Come on I was two) To this day Gail would insist it was me and blamed me for “cutting off her hair”

This past winter, following some of  Gail’s last treatments Gail lost her hair for a second time during her battle with cancer. Naturally it was an emotional day for Gail to see clumps of hair coming out., but like everything she worked through it. Not sure why, but I gathered up some locks and put them into a ziplock bag . I  am thinking suppose  I am ready to accept responsibility for my actions that day when we were children. And now I have some blonde curls in my possession which is better evidence then those damn scissors. 

Always the professional and great fun to work with. Loved by clients and fellow Nortel folks alike. Gail you will be missed.

My deepest sympathies to Gail’s family.  Gail and I met in the 80’s through work and have been great friends ever since.   It has been an honour to be part of her life.   She was excellent at her craft and well respected by her peers.  She loved her family and had an abundance of friends to whom she was very loyal.  Her attitude and bravery in the face of illness was an inspiration.  There are only good memories. 

I met Gail in 1993 and quickly became a loyal member of Friends of Gail. What started as a business association grew into a close friendship over the years.

Gail loved to tell the story of the comment I made when she asked why I, a New Yorker through and through, was living in Dallas. My answer amused her to no end, "Trailing. Spouse." 

We shared many a great evening together, in her home cities of Dallas, Raleigh, San Jose, and Toronto as well as in venues all over North America at business events. The photo here is from 2013 - when I found myself in Toronto and we met for a typically wonderful night.

I'll never visit Toronto again without thinking that on this trip, I won't get to see my dear friend. I will miss that and her.

Every time I see a woman wearing a pair of blue shoes I cannot help but wonder if she bought them in Dallas. Gail once noticed that due to American Airlines’ uniform policies, the best place to buy a pair of woman’s blue shoes was in Dallas, Texas. Apparently Gail had many pair.

I remember celebrating Gail’s five years of survival from cancer, and here we are now 12 years after that.  This time still came too quickly.

I miss her already.

OBITUARY

Beverley Gail Young

June 18, 1956 – July 21, 2018

Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel

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