Obituary of Geraldine Catherine Stroud

If you know my mother then you know A) I am writing this on the back of some scrap paper with gross medical terms that she has always had an unending supply of and that B) she is the strongest, most selfless loving woman in the world. She would do anything for anyone except let them win at a board game. She dated and married one man, my father Dan Stroud, the love of her life whom she has shared every moment with since they were teens. He has taught her how to hunt, fish & knit and she has taught him how to quilt, love puzzles & mysteries and how to be loved unconditionally. They share a love of nature, relaxing on the porch and East Coast travels with best friends. They supported each other through two organ transplants (her a 33 year old Kidney & him a 11 year old Liver), a lifetime of ups, downs, happiness & tears but mostly love, joy and a combined obsession of watching for deer in the yard. My mother comes from an enormous & wonderful family of 13 siblings. She loves them immensely and always wanted 32 of her own. When the kidney disease prevented that, she risked her health and demanded that the doctor allow her to have just one. Here I am. On the day I was born her first words to me were “I want Grandchildren”. So 16 years ago I gave her the perfect one and named her Tallulah Violet in her honour. (Mom’s favourite colour is purple & she’s rather passionate about it.) I gave her two furry grandkids too and I’m not sure how I’m going to break the news to them. They love their Grandma. Mom is predeceased by her parents Lila (Power) & Joe Friske, her little brother Earl and her in-laws Helen (McKeddie) & Harold Stroud. She is survived by my father, her husband Dan Stroud who will need all of us by his side now to fill her shoes, and by Banjo who will forever continue stealing her side of the bed and demanding treats for looking after Daddy. By me (Jennifer), my husband Justin Giroux, who she loves like a son & by her grandchildren Tallulah, Frank & Pogo. By her brothers & sisters Tom Friske (Katherine McTavish), Marlene Lavallee, Patsy Friske, Dianne Friske, Wayne Friske (Dianna Bertrand), Darrell Friske (Sher Riedlinger), Donna Friske-Williams (Ted Williams), Brian Friske, Joe Friske (Diane Huckabone-Friske), Kevin Friske (Darlene Dénis-Friske), Alanna Symington (Paul Symington) & Shawn Friske (Melissa Eady). By her brother & sister in law Donna (Decareau) & Gary Stroud. By her nieces & nephews Mark, Lisa, Peighton, Chad, Kady, Alora, Hannah, Sarah Jade, Harper, Harlow, Miranda , Alex, Valerie, MJ, Coalton, Joshua, Jason, Adam (Nadia), Emily, Joe, Evan, Jacob, Sean, Jamie, Julie, Ava, Paige, Corin, Justin, Geoffrey, Emily, Annabelle, Mallory, Jeremy, Jordyn, Steve, Samantha, Ben, Joseph, Sydney, Jacksen, Madison, Sarah, Moira, Cassidy, Crystal, Jessica, Piper & Eli.(Yes, all of these people gather in their childhood home for every celebration and yes there is a 10 second rule when it comes to saving your chair) By her Aunt Geraldine (Power) Paquette, her mother’s twin sister whom she has always been so proud to be named after. By her Aunt Lois Power, Uncle Kelly Power, Aunt Moon(O’Reilly) Power, Aunt Betty (McKeddie) & Bob Barr, Lois McKeddie and Irene Roseburgh. She loves her large family fiercely and spoke daily about them and her desire to be with them. The cancer took her suddenly on April 13th, her Granny Power’s birthday and Daddy & I were by her side along with Dianne who was her rock in so many ways. Her sister, but also her friend to laugh and joke with, her kidney donor and her nurse. You saved her in 1988 & we love you for letting us have her another 33 years. Mom would want you to know that she’s totally embarrassed by me writing this, but it’s ok because she knows I’m contrary. We love you Mom and will watch for your deer in the yard and maybe a Blue Heron or two. 32x’s & 32o’s PS ~ Sign your organ donor cards & tell your family that you want to give others the gift of more time that I was blessed to receive with my parents. A private visitation will be held at the Goulet Funeral Home, Renfrew followed by a private Mass of Christian Burial that will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Church Renfrew. Donations in Geraldine's name may be made to the Renfrew Victoria Hospital Dialysis Unit or the Oncology Unit. Online condolences/donations may be made at www.gouletfuneralhome.com