Geraldine Fenderson McDonald

Geraldine McDonald (Reid) died at home in Vancouver on Saturday December 2, 2017, in the presence of family. Hers was a peaceful end to a life well and fully lived. 

Born at home during harvest of 1922 on the family farm near Cardale, Manitoba, Geraldine moved to Minnedosa, MB in 1929 to begin school.  She was awarded the Governor General’s medal for academic excellence upon graduation, but she went to work as a bank teller, rather than university, to contribute to her family affected by the Depression.  In 1942 Geraldine joined the Royal Canadian Airforce and served until the end of the war in the RCAF Records Office located in Harrod’s Store in London England.  Despite regular bombing from aircraft and later V1 and V2 rockets, Geraldine enjoyed evenings of dancing in the many service clubs in London as well as travel to Wales, Ireland, and Scotland during occasional leaves.  These were defining years and, admittedly, the happiest and most exciting of her life.

In July of 1945 Geraldine married her childhood friend from Minnedosa, Dennis McDonald, Army Lieutenant, at St. Saviours’ Church in London.  They returned to Canada, Dennis enrolled in the UBC Faculty of Forestry, supported by Geraldine’s work as a bank teller.  During Dennis’ career-related moves throughout BC, three children were born, and Geraldine began her commitment to life-long learning through correspondence courses, guided study groups, and self-directed reading.  Her parents bought Geraldine a new Austin Mini to support her independence.  Geraldine attended a full year at the University of Victoria in 1966-67 and the following year began her 20-year teaching career, with an enviable 45 years of life experience, in elementary schools in Kamloops. At age 57 Geraldine received her B Ed from UBC. Geraldine and Dennis separated after 31 years and Geraldine embarked on years of world travel with Roads Scholar Education, visiting many countries on several continents.  However, Geraldine’s favourite vacation was always the 2 months she spent, for 53 summers, at her cabin on Lake Okanagan.  Geraldine owned the first windsurfer on that large lake, was a formidable swimmer (crossing the entire lake on one occasion), and got around on her Jet-Ski.  In the winters Geraldine downhill skied until all her friends retired from the sport.  She was dedicated to exercise, nutrition, and self-care.  She enjoyed Scrabble, learned to play Bridge long after retirement, enjoyed and supported local theatre, continued as a volunteer at schools providing help to students with additional needs.  She learned to sail and was at the helm of a 30-foot sloop on her 93^rd birthday.

Geraldine is missed by her brother, John Arthur Reid, her children Pamela, Priscilla, and Richard, their children and grandchildren, and the many members of her extended family and friends.  At Geraldine’s request, there will be no service. 

You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the family.