Heavy hearts and quiet tears here at the dreadfully sad news that the kind and lovely Geraldine Francis (gerryf) has come to the end of her battle against a cruel illness.
Gerry was one of our first learners, and her unswerving passion for the language and support for SSiW, the loving kindness she offered everyone and the love she sent to us, helped us through tough times and gave us joy in happy times.
And not just on the forum - she’s been a real support and loving friend to Cat and Iestyn for many years, always quick to offer practical help, always full of love and affection.
For Catrin and myself, Gerry was here on the forum (or there on the old forum!) with love and support when our son Beuno Llŷn was born, when Catrin had her miscarriage, when SSiW won an IWA award, for lovely conversations in SSiW parties, with financial and emotional support for everything we tried to do - it’s very hard to believe that she’s gone.
As she said herself, ‘Certainly, a full life is never a dull life.’
Our deepest condolences to her husband, Peter, and the rest of her family.
I’m hopeless at this kind of stuff, but I just want to say that I bumped into Gerry and her husband Peter at several SSIW parties, and on one occasion ended up staying in the same hotel. I’ll always remember her infectious smile and that wonderful positive attitude.
I’m sure she will be very, very fondly remembered by all who knew her.
That’s a lovely idea, Leia. Peter has read this thread, and we’re setting him up with an account at the moment, so I’m sure he’ll respond to that once we can get him logged-in.
Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. Geraldine was, as many of your have commented on, a very kind and caring person. She was an enthusiastic learner of welsh throwing herself into the SSIW experience and also joining joining the WI, Merched Y Wawr, a sewing group and various other local groups, all of which offered her an opportunity to practice welsh.
I accompanied Geraldine to several SSIW functions and shared the pleasure of meeting many of you. Although I was never a member, I did join in with her SSIW lessons and have benefited from learning some welsh (though nowhere near as much as Geraldine). However, I have now joined as a member in my own right and intend to continue supporting SSIW and learning welsh. I’m sure I will get the pleasure of meeting many of you again.
In answer to the question raised earlier in this thread, the family have requested that donations, in lieu of flowers, be sent to Marie Curie who were wonderful with Geraldine and me in her final days.
@PeterFrancis May I add my sincere condolences to the others expressed here and thank you for suggesting Marie Curie as a fitting recipent of our memorial tributes. I am just about to make my own donation in her memory.
It’s very moving to welcome you here on the forum, Peter, and Catrin and I will look forward very much to meeting you again. We will be sending a donation to Marie Curie - they were also wonderful to my mother when we lost my step-father, so it will feel doubly right.
Oh, I’m so sorry. I was friends with Geraldine on Facebook too. It was such a thrill to finally meet her face to face on Bootcamp. She will be greatly missed. Welcome to the forum Peter and strength in the days ahead.
