Gladys Lillian Kergen passed away peacefully on Friday, March 6, 2015 at the Davidson Health Centre at the age of 83.
Gladys was born in Davidson on Sept. 7, 1931 to Jim and Selina Mercier along with her brother Sid and sister Marlene.
Gladys married the love of her life, Paul on June 9, 1956 and together they raised three children, Brad, Pat and Sid. Gladys had 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren who she absolutely adored. When she passed away the family recalled many wonderful memories of time spent with grandma and grandpa at the farm. The coffee pot was always on for friends and family and food was abundant. Grandma made the best macaroni and cheese, cinnamon toast and had the best snack cupboard ever. Summer days were spent playing outside (but not on the bales!), riding horses and driving motorbikes. There was never a shortage of cousins to play dress-up or have sleepovers with at the farm.
Gladys defined what it was to be a grandma and being on the receiving end of that kind of love was something exceptional. Her face lit up whenever her great-grandchildren visited and she loved them dearly. She will be loved and missed everyday.
The celebration of Gladys’s life was held Tuesday, April 7 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Parish with Father Joseph Gyim-Austin officiating. The choir was in attendance with soloist Karen Reich singing Ave Maria. Pallbearers were grandsons Andrew, Jarrett, Dustin, Billy, Adrian and Nic. A tribute was written and read by granddaughter Kandra Kergen who shared memories of Gladys and what she meant to each and every one of us who shared in her life.
Gladys is survived by her family: son Brad (Kathy) and family Kandra (A-Jay Buhay), Paige (Daris) Rink and Ryan; daughter Pat (Stuart) Dougan and family Erin (Billy) Gust and children Will, Eva and Georgia, Andrew and Jarrett (Chandra); son Sid (Charlene) and family Shayla (Adrian Diakow) and children Brooklyn, Nevan, Dawson and Ryden, Michelle (Marc Valois), Ashley (Nic) DeGoede and children Hannah and Ava, Dustin (Kalee Davis) and daughter Emma. Gladys is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.
Gladys was predeceased by her husband Paul, her parents Jim and Selina Mercier, brother Sid and sister Marlene and a granddaughter Tia Avery Kergen as well as other family members.
For friends so wishing, memorials in memory of Gladys may be directed to the Davidson Swimming Pool (Town of Davidson) or to the Health Centre Activity Fund (Heartland Health Region) or to a charity of your choice.
Interment was at the Davidson Cemetery and arrangements entrusted to Hanson’s Funeral Home.