Flora Geraldine Griffin

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GRIFFIN, Flora Geraldine

Flora Geraldine Griffin (born F. G. O’Brien on June 9,1924 in Halifax, N.S.) died peacefully at the home of her daughter, Pati Barrera, in Brampton, Ontario on Sunday, December 4,2022. She was 98.5 years old. Gerry was known by everyone who knew her as a kind, gentle and caring soul who always wanted to help others whenever possible. She was never someone who complained, even when she had physical ailments. She was always offering to help out around the house and do whatever she could to make the lives of those she cared for better. Her beautiful smile and constant optimism will always be remembered.

Gerry was a classically trained vocalist singing in 5 languages and had the highest level of piano certification. She met Army Lieutenant Herbert Griffin(from Coldwater, ON) in Halifax in 1943 and married him in the spring of 1945 and then moved to Ontario . They spent their early married life in Hamilton while Herb got a degree at McMaster and Gerry used her secretarial skills from Mount Allison University to work with The Textile Worker’s Union. Herb became Personnel Manager for Ontario Hydro and they moved to Toronto where Glenn and Janet were born and then Belleville where Bruce was born and then to North Bay where Pati was born and they spent 11 years and made many lifelong friends. They built the cottage on Trout Lake in 1959. Gerry was the choir leader and organist at Pinewood United Church when she produced a long play recording of Joseph Stainer’s “The Crucifixion” in 1965. Much later in life she liked to tell friends that she had “seven great tenors” in her choir. Gerry was still able to stay at the cottage on weekends this past summer of 2022, when Pati and her family would make the trek to North Bay where Janet and most of her extended family live.

From North Bay the family moved to Clarkson, Mississauga where Gerry helped out with the choir, played organ and did secretarial work at Christ Church United in the late 60’s and 70’s. In Clarkson, she also answered calls for a Distress Line, which had people contemplating suicide calling in for help. In 1980 they moved to Ottawa while Herb was working for Canada Post. Interestingly, several families that they had known in North Bay had also moved to Ottawa, so they already had close friends in their new city and made many more. Herb passed away quietly at home in 1995 and Gerry continued to live a full and very active life with her friends in Ottawa until 2013, when it became apparent that her memory was beginning to fail her. It was then that Pati and Jorge asked to have her live with them in Brampton. Gerry still continued to enjoy getting out to various events and to the Altzheimer’s Day Program once or twice a week. She was relatively mobile with her two wheeled walker right up until Thanksgiving of this year. With the loss of strength in her left leg, her decline began. Still, she smiled everyday and never complained right through to her passing this past Sunday afternoon.

Gerry was strong and determined throughout life and is survived by Glenn(Martha) Griffin, Janet (Mike)Ross, Bruce Griffin and Pati(Jorge) Barrera. Grandchildren, Kenneth, Stephen and Krista Ross, Gar and Samm Griffin, Bruce and Jenni Barrera. Great Grandchildren Arik and Emery Ross, Maxwell and Lilliana Ross and Great Great Grandson Dante Ross. Nieces, D'Nora Herrmann, Marion Plunkett, Pam Szegvary and Karen O’Brien, and Nephews Bob Plunkett and Ron O’Brien and many more loving relatives and friends. Predeceased by cherished husband Herbert L.Griffin (1995)

The family would like to acknowledge all the love and support from everyone during this difficult time and thank the many wonderful caregivers from Altzheimer’s Day Program Evelyns Place and Spectrum Homecare, and nurses from Care Partners and Aida Barrera.

Contributions in memory of Gerry Griffin can be made to the Altzheimers Society of Peel and St. Paul’s United Church in Brampton as an alternative to flowers.

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