ANNA MARIE GALLIVAN (FRANSSENS)
Born: January 15th, 1936
Passed in: SYDNEY
Passed on: December 22nd, 2016
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother and grandmother, Anna Maria (Franssens) Gallivan of Whitney Pier after a brief battle with cancer. She passed peacefully on Thursday, December 22, 2016, at the Palliative Care unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney. Born in Oedelem, Belgium, Jan 15, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Jules and Leonie Franssens.
Anna came to Canada in 1957 to visit her sister, Frieda and subsequently met the love of her life, Austin “Bud” Gallivan and lived happily thereafter in Whitney Pier. Anna was a devoted member of Holy Redeemer Parish. She was a homemaker all her life and took great pride in it. She also worked outside the home at Mark’s & Spencer and had fond memories of her time there, keeping her close, in some ways, to her beloved homeland. Anna spent endless summers camping in the Cape Breton Highlands with her family and had a close circle of neighbours she was happy to call her friends. A more devoted and capable wife, mother and grandmother could not be found. Her patience, laughter and welcoming nature would warm any one of us.
Surviving are her sons, Glenn (Cheryl) Gallivan, Antigonish, Kelly, Sydney and Tim (Michelle), Sydney; five grandchildren, whom she adored, Emma, Jane, Kate, Jack and Ryan; sister, Georgette, Belgium; sisters-in-law, Denise, Belgium, Rena, Belgium and Mary, Sydney; loving niece, Janet Head, Sydney; special nephew, Gary Gallivan, also of Sydney; many other nieces and nephews. Anna was predeceased by her loving husband, Austin “Bud” Gallivan in 2013; as well by infant son, Thomas; her parents; sisters, Frieda, Margaret and Gabriel and brothers, Jerome, Robert, Pierre and George. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Jim MacKillop, Dr. Anne Frances D’Intino and Dr. George Burns for their exemplary care and consideration provided to our mother in the past and through her recent illness. Also, thanks to the nurses of ICU, 4C, 4B, Harbourview Rehabilitation Center and especially to the Palliative Care unit for their genuine care and kindness, which allowed our mother to pass away with peace and dignity. Special thanks, as well, to the Pier Pharmasave staff and the VON and homecare teams who served her so well while at home. To our family and friends for their love and support, she will be missed by all. There will be no visitation. Please join us for a mass of celebration which will be held at Holy Redeemer Church on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, 10 a.m., with Rev. Paul Murphy officiating. Interment in Resurrection Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers, are welcomed to the Palliative Care unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Words of comfort can be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or e-mail sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca.
