Georgie Isobel May MacGibbon passed away peacefully after two weeks of care at the QEII Hospital in Halifax with her four children and several of her grandchildren at her side. There were many moments for conversation and time to enjoy Georgie’s characteristic humour and wit.
Georgie is survived by Margaret (Laurence) Veinott, Alan (Glynis) MacGibbon, Lois (Hugh Kirkegaard) MacGibbon, and Lynda MacGibbon; her grandchildren: Heather, Patricia, Natalia, Jill, Beth, Olivia and Isabella; her great-grandchildren: Hollis, Beau, Owen and Madelyn. She is also survived by her niece Karen (Henry) Johnston, great-nieces Kelly and Sherry; her sister-in-law Alberta Ferguson; nieces Jeanne, Cathy, Brenda, Elizabeth, Debbie, Donna and Dawn; nephews Brian, Terry, David and Barry; and by many other great nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Nelson Hector MacGibbon; their infant daughter, Carol Pearl; and by her brothers Frank and Angus and sister, Catherine Ferguson.
Georgie was born in Sydney, NS, the youngest of seven children born to Margaret and Daniel Ferguson. She often told stories of her childhood home, Mclean’s Court, where young men who were veterans of World War II stayed overnight before heading to Halifax for hospital visits.
In her childhood and teenage years Georgie relished summers spent at Mira where her aunt and uncle ran a family farm and kept bungalows on the shore. She loved delivering milk with Uncle Carl, and learning to make Parker House rolls with Aunt Sadie. Georgie spent many hours exploring the fields in summer and skating on the pond in winter.
After their marriage, Georgie and Nelson moved to Corner Brook, NL, supposedly for two years. They stayed for 45, raising Margaret, Alan, Lois and Lynda in their home on West Valley Road and at their Georges Lake cabin. Both places were the centre of much hospitality with many overnight visitors. Their home was regularly filled with friends on Christmas Eve, with seafood chowder and English trifle on the menu.
Corner Brook Baptist Church was an important part of Georgie’s life, where for many years she taught children about the wider world. She was keenly interested in people and had friends of all ages. In the last decade of her life, while living at Shannex seniors’ residences in Halifax, she continued to make wonderful friends.
Georgie loved mayflowers and maple trees, especially the ones she and Nelson transplanted from West Valley Road to Georges Lake.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of Sydney Memorial Chapel with a memorial service to be held at a later date.