Obituary for Mary Geraldine "Geraldine" Whalen (Tobin) Mrs.
WHALEN, Mary Geraldine (nee Tobin)
passed away peacefully at Heart of Hastings Hospice on February 6th, 2023 in her 85th year, with family by her side.
Geraldine was the loving mom of Tom Whalen (Doreen), Catherine Kwiecien (Stephen), Rob Whalen (Lesley), Ann-Marie Mohns (Dale), and Dave Whalen (Marcie). She was predeceased by her husband Kevin Whalen. Geraldine was the loving grandma of Alleisha (Jay), Breanna (Tyler), Spencer (Holly), Emily, Natalie, Jacob, Hannah, Josh, Aidan, and Liam. She was also the proud great-grandma of Charlie, Jack and Elowyn. Geraldine was the dear sister of Annastasia Cliffe and will be fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings, baby brother Jimmy Tobin, Agnes Tobin, Aileen Wainhouse, Edward Tobin, Evelyn Tobin, and Margaret Garvey. Geraldine was the daughter of the late Francis and Kathaleen (nee O’Carroll) Tobin, of Madoc, Ontario.
Geraldine spent most of her life living on a farm and so, was well accustomed to all the hard work that entailed. She could chase cattle (some even chased her), mend fences, drive a tractor and climb the haymow with the best of them.
Geraldine had a long and rewarding career as a teacher, starting in a one-room schoolhouse in Stoco, Ontario back in 1956. While she started out teaching various grades and classes, she spent much of her career teaching special education at Tweed Hungerford, and she loved every minute of it until her retirement in 1996. Upon retiring, mom then got to enjoy things like gardening, spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, hanging out with her breakfast group, road trips and lunches out with family and friends, and bits of travelling to British Columbia, Alberta, and several places across Ontario. She was famous among her children and grandchildren for her hand-made flannel pajamas – if only we had kept count of how many she made!
There are many thank yous to extend for mom’s treatment and care over the last year ….to the doctors, nurses and technicians at Kingston General Cancer Centre, to Dr. Levesque and his staff at the Douglas A. MacIntosh Cancer Clinic at QHC Belleville General, to Trixie Barrow and Dr. Mustard at Gateway Community Health, to the staff and volunteers at Heart of Hastings Hospice for the care and compassion shown to Geraldine and her family, and to Geraldine’s friends and former colleagues who visited and sent notes and messages of encouragement and love over the last several months.
Family and friends are invited to St. Carthagh's Catholic Church on Saturday, February 11, 2023 from 10am until time of Memorial Mass 11 am. Father Justin Pulikunnel officiating. Spring interment St. Carthagh's Cemetery. Donations to the Kingston General Cancer Centre, the Heart of Hastings Hospice or the charity of your choice would be appreciated. Online condolences: rushnell.com
Mom, if we can steal a page out of a former student’s book, “we’s all loves you, yes, we’s do”.
passed away peacefully at Heart of Hastings Hospice on February 6th, 2023 in her 85th year, with family by her side.
Geraldine was the loving mom of Tom Whalen (Doreen), Catherine Kwiecien (Stephen), Rob Whalen (Lesley), Ann-Marie Mohns (Dale), and Dave Whalen (Marcie). She was predeceased by her husband Kevin Whalen. Geraldine was the loving grandma of Alleisha (Jay), Breanna (Tyler), Spencer (Holly), Emily, Natalie, Jacob, Hannah, Josh, Aidan, and Liam. She was also the proud great-grandma of Charlie, Jack and Elowyn. Geraldine was the dear sister of Annastasia Cliffe and will be fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings, baby brother Jimmy Tobin, Agnes Tobin, Aileen Wainhouse, Edward Tobin, Evelyn Tobin, and Margaret Garvey. Geraldine was the daughter of the late Francis and Kathaleen (nee O’Carroll) Tobin, of Madoc, Ontario.
Geraldine spent most of her life living on a farm and so, was well accustomed to all the hard work that entailed. She could chase cattle (some even chased her), mend fences, drive a tractor and climb the haymow with the best of them.
Geraldine had a long and rewarding career as a teacher, starting in a one-room schoolhouse in Stoco, Ontario back in 1956. While she started out teaching various grades and classes, she spent much of her career teaching special education at Tweed Hungerford, and she loved every minute of it until her retirement in 1996. Upon retiring, mom then got to enjoy things like gardening, spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, hanging out with her breakfast group, road trips and lunches out with family and friends, and bits of travelling to British Columbia, Alberta, and several places across Ontario. She was famous among her children and grandchildren for her hand-made flannel pajamas – if only we had kept count of how many she made!
There are many thank yous to extend for mom’s treatment and care over the last year ….to the doctors, nurses and technicians at Kingston General Cancer Centre, to Dr. Levesque and his staff at the Douglas A. MacIntosh Cancer Clinic at QHC Belleville General, to Trixie Barrow and Dr. Mustard at Gateway Community Health, to the staff and volunteers at Heart of Hastings Hospice for the care and compassion shown to Geraldine and her family, and to Geraldine’s friends and former colleagues who visited and sent notes and messages of encouragement and love over the last several months.
Family and friends are invited to St. Carthagh's Catholic Church on Saturday, February 11, 2023 from 10am until time of Memorial Mass 11 am. Father Justin Pulikunnel officiating. Spring interment St. Carthagh's Cemetery. Donations to the Kingston General Cancer Centre, the Heart of Hastings Hospice or the charity of your choice would be appreciated. Online condolences: rushnell.com
Mom, if we can steal a page out of a former student’s book, “we’s all loves you, yes, we’s do”.