Obituary for Gertie Marie Collins-Sweetapple
It is with great sadness, but everlasting peace that the family announce the passing of Gertie Marie Collins-Sweetapple. Gertie passed peacefully away in her home on Wednesday, September 16th, 2020, surrounded by her family and loved ones. One of her last wishes was to spend her final days in the comfort of her own home. That was so important to her and the family is forever grateful this wish of hers was granted.
Gertie was born July 19th, 1947 to Sandy and Jane Oram of Bragg’s Island where she lived for the first 7 years of her childhood, until the family eventually resettled in Glovertown. As a young woman Gertie ventured to Toronto to join her older sister Stella, in hopes of building the life she always dreamt of. It was there she met her first husband Daniel Collins, whom she spent 30+ wonderful years with.
A couple years after Dan’s untimely passing in 2002, Gertie met her second husband Calvin Sweetapple. They would go on to spend 16 wonderful years together. During that time Cal became a huge part of the family. He loved Gertie unconditionally, not only in the good times but also through her battle with sickness. He could always make her smile, even when the pain was great. Gertie’s family will be forever grateful for Cal’s unwavering commitment to her.
Gertie was always eager to shop. She had a passion for clothes, shoes, jewelry and handbags. This passion was shared with her sisters and mother, and was also passed on to her granddaughters. Her love for shopping was secondary, of course, to what meant everything to her - her faith in God and the love she held for her family. Her family was her world. She was always concerned and put loved ones far ahead of herself.
Gertie loved fiercely, deeply, and was a very special wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and the list goes on and on. She had deep roots in her community, and was known by many. She will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate to have known her.
Gertie is pre-deceased by her father Sandy, husband Dan, and sister Stella. She leaves to mourn a very large family; her Husband Cal, sons Bart (Deanna) and Sandy (Samantha), daughters Colleen (Wayne) and Pam (Ralph), stepdaughters Kathy and Tracy, her mother Jane, sister Rose (Tom), her brothers Clayton (Judy), Albert (Maggie), Dawson (Elizabeth), Edgar (Mabel), Aubrey (Geraldine), Pleman (Ellen), Pernell (Debbie), and eight grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Juliana, Daniel, Sophie, Anna, Jordyn, and Mady. She also leaves to mourn many nieces and nephews, as well as many other extended family members, and dear friends.
Gertie will forever be in our hearts, and remembered fondly. She lived an incredible life that was filled with love. She had the spirit of a fighter, and in the end leaned on her faith in the almighty to have the hope of life eternal with her loved ones who had gone before her, and to give that hope to the family she has left behind.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions there is limited seating and the funeral will not be open to the public. A list of mourners has been prepared by the family and they will be contacted. Furthermore, there will be no visitation. We thank everyone for their understanding in this matter.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be generously made to the Daffodil Place in Gertie’s memory.
Gertie was born July 19th, 1947 to Sandy and Jane Oram of Bragg’s Island where she lived for the first 7 years of her childhood, until the family eventually resettled in Glovertown. As a young woman Gertie ventured to Toronto to join her older sister Stella, in hopes of building the life she always dreamt of. It was there she met her first husband Daniel Collins, whom she spent 30+ wonderful years with.
A couple years after Dan’s untimely passing in 2002, Gertie met her second husband Calvin Sweetapple. They would go on to spend 16 wonderful years together. During that time Cal became a huge part of the family. He loved Gertie unconditionally, not only in the good times but also through her battle with sickness. He could always make her smile, even when the pain was great. Gertie’s family will be forever grateful for Cal’s unwavering commitment to her.
Gertie was always eager to shop. She had a passion for clothes, shoes, jewelry and handbags. This passion was shared with her sisters and mother, and was also passed on to her granddaughters. Her love for shopping was secondary, of course, to what meant everything to her - her faith in God and the love she held for her family. Her family was her world. She was always concerned and put loved ones far ahead of herself.
Gertie loved fiercely, deeply, and was a very special wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and the list goes on and on. She had deep roots in her community, and was known by many. She will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate to have known her.
Gertie is pre-deceased by her father Sandy, husband Dan, and sister Stella. She leaves to mourn a very large family; her Husband Cal, sons Bart (Deanna) and Sandy (Samantha), daughters Colleen (Wayne) and Pam (Ralph), stepdaughters Kathy and Tracy, her mother Jane, sister Rose (Tom), her brothers Clayton (Judy), Albert (Maggie), Dawson (Elizabeth), Edgar (Mabel), Aubrey (Geraldine), Pleman (Ellen), Pernell (Debbie), and eight grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Juliana, Daniel, Sophie, Anna, Jordyn, and Mady. She also leaves to mourn many nieces and nephews, as well as many other extended family members, and dear friends.
Gertie will forever be in our hearts, and remembered fondly. She lived an incredible life that was filled with love. She had the spirit of a fighter, and in the end leaned on her faith in the almighty to have the hope of life eternal with her loved ones who had gone before her, and to give that hope to the family she has left behind.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions there is limited seating and the funeral will not be open to the public. A list of mourners has been prepared by the family and they will be contacted. Furthermore, there will be no visitation. We thank everyone for their understanding in this matter.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be generously made to the Daffodil Place in Gertie’s memory.