Obituary of MERDINA JEAN ELIZABETH GIRARD

MERDINA "DEENA" GIRARD

It is with heart broken sadness that we announce the passing of our sweet loving Mother, Deena Girard on Saturday, April 28, 2018, very peacefully, at the age of 79.

She leaves to mourn her daughters, Rochelle (John) and their children, Kelly (Brent) and Andy (Brittany); Michelle (Alan) and their children, David and Michael (Stephanie), Brigitte (Ron), and their son Tyler, and Samaira (Dwight) and their children, Marc (Leah), Myles (Denver) and Elisabeth (Jamin); great grandchildren, Gabriella, Sollie and Nate; adopted grandchildren, Laurie (Jay), Eternity, August and Cady.  Deena was predeceased by her husband Jerry (Popo) Girard; her parents, Ethel (Don) Agolini and Joseph (Jessie) Isbister.

Mom had the most beautiful heart, always helping anyone she could.  There was always room at Grammy’s table.  For a lot of her life she worked at a furrier, at the Husky on No. 1 Hwy and at the Big Scoop in Nova Scotia.  But one of the best things she loved to do is cook, especially making egg rolls or potato pancakes for her grandchildren.  Mom loved to shop.  In her better days, her best friend Janice and she would swim three days a week, have lunch, then shop.  She also loved to crochet, one of her passions.  She made blankets, hand towels, hats, scarves, all to give away.  That was typical of her.  She had an open heart and took great joy in sharing.

When her husband passed away, she moved in with her daughter Samaira for quite a few years, then to her daughter Brigitte’s.  Thank God for daughters.  She went back to Samaira’s before moving to her daughter Rochelle’s until her passing.

Mom was battling health problems these last few years, especially these last few months.  Her body finally said “enough, time to give up the fight, you did enough.  It’s time to go home.”

Thank you to the nurses who loved and helped her and to very special homecare workers, Anna, Oxana, Suri and Irene, you made her day very special.  Thank you all for being there for her.  She’s happy and healthy now, beside her husband whom she loved so much and all the rest of her family.  If you’re crying and you knew her, she’d be saying stop making such a fuss.  Last but not least, we thank our beautiful sister Samaira.  She spent the last week with her and helped Mom when she passed.  Samaira held her hand as Mom took her last breath.  Thank you Samaira, you are just like Mom.  We love you!

A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at St. Alphonsus Parish, 315 Munroe Avenue at 11:00 a.m.

We adore you Mom, Grammy, Deena.  Please watch over us until we meet again.

To my Family and Friends, please remember:

Death is nothing at all.  I have only slipped into the next room.  Everything remains exactly as it was.  I am I and you are you.  The old life we lived together is unchanged.  What we were to each other we still are.  Call me by my old familiar name.  Speak of me in the easy way you’ve always done.  Laugh as we’ve always laughed, play, smile, think of me, pray for me.  Let my name be always spoken, the way it always was.  Life means all that it ever was.  Death is but a negligible accident.  Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight.  I am waiting for you, for a time, somewhere, very near, just around the corner and all is well.  Love Deena.

Please make any donations, if you wish, to help the family.