Geraldine O'Handley (Billard)
Born In: Nova Scotia, Canada
Born: May 5th, 1951
Passed in: Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: August 28th, 2010
It is with great sadness and heavy heart that we announce the sudden passing of Geraldine O'Handley, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010 of Dominion Street, Glace Bay. Geraldine was involved in a motor vehicle accident. She was returning home from Inverness following the celebration of her 39th wedding anniversary.
Born May 5, 1951, she was a devoted daughter of Gerald 'Chub' and Ruby (LeMoine) Billard of Catalone, previously of Atlantic Street, Glace Bay.
She married the love of her life, James 'Jimmie' O'Handley on August 28, 1971 at Immaculate Conception, Bridgeport and up to the day of her passing, Geraldine dedicated her life to her three daughters, Shauna O'Handley (Adam Glabay); Elizabeth O'Handley; and Andrea Ignacio (Eugene Ignacio).
Geraldine is survived by four siblings, Gary and his late wife, Maureen Billard, Glace Bay, Sandra and her husband, Karl Fifield, Sydney, Terry and his wife, Lynn Billard, Port Morien, and Judy Billard, Catalone. She is also survived by her husband's family, Sheila O'Handley, Newfoundland, Babe and her husband, Murray Wadman, Florida, Anna and her husband, Billy Kuta, Glace Bay, Elizabeth and her husband, Brad Holmander, Massachusetts, Matthew O'Handley and his wife Mary, Glace Bay, John Charles O'Handley, Ontario, Paul and his wife, Debbie O'Handley, Bridgeport and her godchildren, Robbie (Laddie) Kuta, New Zealand, Roy O'Handley, Bridgeport, Jessica Billard, New Brunswick, Leanne Billard, Newfoundland, Angela Fifield, Halifax as well as her many nieces and nephews.
Geraldine gave selflessly to her husband and daughters through uncompromising love, support and care. She touched the lives of many children. When her daughters were growing up she put her heart and soul into the work she did with Passchendaele Brownies as part of the Girl Guides of Canada movement. Geraldine will also be remembered fondly by the many neighborhood children of Dominion Street who referred to her as 'Ma'. When her children finished school, Geraldine followed her lifelong ambition of working with the elderly and in 1997 completed the Personal Care Worker program at Marconi Campus, graduating first in her class. Since this time she has enriched the lives of the residents, their families and her colleagues at the Seaview Manor and will be remembered for her one of a kind sense of humour, inexhaustible energy and relentless determination. Geraldine will also be missed by the Friends of the Seaview Manor, a volunteer group she worked with for over 25 years.
Geraldine took a great sense of pride in maintaining her home for her family and it is her wish that visitation be held at the family home, 248 Dominion St., Glace Bay on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010 between 2-9 p.m. The Rite of Christian Burial will take place Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010 at 11 a.m. at her parish church, St. Anthony's, Dominion Street, Glace Bay with Fr. Norman MacPhee, Fr. Charlie Cameron and Fr. Alexander MacNeil concelebrating. Friends and family are welcome to return to the family home to continue the celebration of Geraldine's life.
To continue in her legacy, the family wishes that any donations in Geraldine's memory be made to the Pakistan Floods Emergency Appeal (http://www.islamicreliefcanada.org).
Arrangements are under the direction of Curry's Funeral Home, 775 Main St., Glace Bay.
E-mail condolences may be sent to jmcurry@ns.sympatico.ca.
"Love does not know its depths until the hour of separation." - Kihlil Gibram
