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It is with great sadness that the family of Ursula Gay announces her death on 30 November 2016 in Sudbury, Ontario as a result of an aggressive brain tumour. Ursula will be forever missed, with an aching heart, by her husband of 47 years, Raymond, her two sons, Patrick and Michael, as well as her daughters-in-law Betsy and Mila. Her six grandchildren Declan (15), Anna (13) and Liam (10) of Salt Lake City, and Grace (11), Aine (7) and Brendan (4) of Sydney, Australia will miss her terribly. Her loss is also profoundly felt by her sister Frances Ryan, her cousin and confidant Rosemary Caine, and her sister-in-law Jennifer Biddle; all travelled great distances to offer care and comfort over the past months. She is further survived by her sisters Rosaleen and Marie and her brothers Kenneth and Fergus. She will be fondly remembered by friends and family across three continents. The 9th of 11 children from a traditional Irish family, Ursula was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland in 1942. She was intensely proud to be Irish. Her father, Michael Gleeson, played an active part in the Irish struggle for independence and her brother Kevin was killed in active duty as a UN peace keeper in the Congo. Fifty years ago in Dublin, Ursula met her beloved husband Raymond. They married in 1969. Ursula and Raymond immigrated to Canada with their two young sons, settling first in the Ottawa area before moving to Sudbury in 1981. Ursula became as proud to be Canadian as she was to be Irish. She was always ready to promote the virtues of life in Northern Ontario and was an active member of the Sudbury community: as a board member of the Sudbury Theatre Centre, member of the John Howard Society and contributor to various local initiatives. Ursula was passionate about literature, music and culture. She was a prodigious and curious reader and a co-founder of the Lakeside Book Club. She adored the opera and she and Raymond were regular supporters of the Sudbury Theatre Centre as well as the Symphony. Ursula was much-loved for her graciousness and gregarious nature and was celebrated for her hospitality. There was always room for another person around her dinner table in Sudbury or at the family’s cherished cottage in the Bay of Islands, Whitefish Falls - her favourite place in the world. A network of treasured and enduring friendships naturally followed from her love of company and conversation. The generosity and concern of those friends was a great comfort to both Ursula and Ray in the difficult period following her diagnosis in February. The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses and staff at Health Science North. Thanks also to Dr. Graham and the dedicated team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists of the Intensive Rehabilitation Unit whose hard work and creativity vastly improved Ursula’s mobility following her surgery. Special thanks to the dedicated and compassionate team at the Maison Vale Hospice who assisted Ursula and her family in her final months. Funeral Mass will take place In the Christ the King Church 30 Beech Street, Sudbury Monday, December 5th, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. Cremation at the Park Lawn Crematorium. Donations to the Maison Vale Hospice would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to the Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home.

Service Details

Provided by: Jackson & Barnard Funeral Home

Service
Monday, December 5, 2016
12:00 AM


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