Our Mom
Geraldine Gildemeester
Born Geraldine Flora Sherlock (Jerry)
April 4, 1934 - August 1, 2023
Mom went out on her own terms through the MAID Program on August 1, 2023 at Saint John Hospice at UBC. Sister to Audree, mother to 3 boys: Ken 1958, Jan 1957 (July 3, 2001) and Jerry 1954. Mother-in-law to Pat (Jerry). Jan passed away too young at age 44. She was never the same after that. There was a hole in her heart after Jan died.

The Sherlock family originated in Iceland. Moving on to County Westmeath, Ireland, Ohio, Los Angeles California, Killarney Manitoba. Jerry was born in Imperial, Saskatchewan. Baptised in May of her birth year. Audree was born in Los Angeles and stayed with relatives before the family moved to Saskatchewan then on to Vancouver.

Their mother passed in 1949. Their father was a pharmacist in Imperial and Vancouver. In her teens mom worked in the drugstores he was stationed at. Audree went to UBC and graduated with a Pharmaceutical Chemist degree to carry on the family trade.

Mom grew up in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver, living in various neighborhoods. She attended Kitsilano High making many friends along the way and graduating in 1952. She stayed in touch with many of them well into their 80’s.

She married at age 20 to Denny Gildemeester, separating in the early 90’s.

In 1978 mom won a free trip anywhere in CP Air‘s world contest. The call came in and the skill testing question was eventually answered successfully and her and Denny were off to Europe. They travelled on a Eurail pass to all the hotspots.

During Expo 86 in Vancouver, mom purchased a season pass and was a fixture there, visiting daily and loving every minute of the World’s Fair.

Not having her own grandchildren, she and Denny were foster grandparents to twin brothers Ben and Will English. It was a lasting relationship of great joy! Their mother April passed too soon.

Mom took many Caribbean, South America and Alaska cruises with sister Audree, most often on their favorite - Holland America Line. They really loved this pastime.

After the kids left the house in Burnaby Mom worked many jobs in retail: Nectars Coffee shop, Fabricland, Fanny’s Fabrics, Tall Girl and many more.

Some Early Vancouver History

She and Audree worked at Cunningham’s Drugstores for the early entrepreneur George T. Cunningham. G.T. Cunningham Drugstores commissioned the Sundial at English Bay as a Centennial project in 1967 to commemorate the opening of their first drugstore on a nearby corner in 191 . Also known as the George Cunningham Memorial Sundial. The inscription reads, "I mark my hours by shadow, mayest thou mark thine by sunshine." The sundial commemorates three English "greenhorns" - Samuel Brighouse, John Morton, and William Hailstone who in 1862 filed the first land claim and planned the first home and industry in the then heavily wooded area now bounded by Burrard Inlet, Stanley Park, English Bay and Burrard Street to which they received title in 1867. Shoppers Drug Mart purchased the Cunningham chain in 1971.

She lived a full and colorful life. We love you and miss you greatly.

As per her wishes there will be no service.