It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Emma Rosemond Geddes (nee Mitchell) born December 7, 1934 to Edwin and Jessie (nee Higgins) Mitchell. Emma passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of November 6, 2024 at the Ottawa Hospital Civic campus in her 90th year. Emma is survived by her husband of 65 years, Donald Geddes, her two daughters Lisa Moore (John) and Nancy Vincent (Drew) and her four grandchildren Scott (Esther), Ellory (Moustafa), Michael (Lauren) and Rylan, as well as 2 great granddaughters Lucy and Piper.
Emma was born into a large and loving family growing up on a farm in Middle Musquodoboit Nova Scotia. She was 3rd youngest of 11. The 9 sisters and 2 brothers remained closely connected throughout their lives and when ever they gathered the room was filled with laughter and stories remembered from their youth.
In 1958 Emma met a young Airforce man from Milford Nova Scotia, Donald Geddes, at a local dance. That first dance started a long-distance courtship between Greenwood Airforce base with a 2-hour drive to Middle Musquodoboit when ever they could fit some time in with the shift work of Emma’s job as a telephone operator and Don’s time off from the base. They married on October 17, 1959, just before Don was transferred to Churchill Manitoba and Emma followed 6 months later when housing had been secured. This started the adventures from rural Nova Scotia to postings all over Canada, Europe and the United States. While this was never a life that Emma had envisioned, she embraced every posting with curiosity and excitement to see what the new place had to offer and was always eager to make new connections and to turn the new house into a home for the family. Home was always filled with the smells of baking, enhanced in summer by a garden full of flowers and decorated with mementoes of family, and previous postings and travel.
While none of the moves ever took her back to Nova Scotia to live a portion of her heart always stayed at home on the farm with her sisters and brothers. Emma maintained close contact with all her family and friends through many letters and phone calls and when the postings took them close enough, summer trips back to Nova Scotia were always a priority. Emma brought her Nova Scotia home to life for her daughters and grandchildren by the retelling of stories from her youth and these memories will be cherished always and the stories retold.
While we are deeply saddened by her passing, we take comfort in knowing that there is a great reunion in heaven as she rejoins the family and friends that went before her.
A celebration of life will be held at Beechwood, Cemetery and Funeral Services (280 Beechwood Ave, Ottawa) on Monday, November 18 from 1:00pm-2:00pm with a reception to follow. A short visitation prior to the service is also welcome from 12:00pm–1:00pm in the Sacred Space.
Donations can be made in Emma’s name to The Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County or The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
Our condolences on Aunt Emma's passing. I remember her as always quick with a smile and a remark to make you laugh. There was always a warm welcome an̈d a warm meal ready and waiting whenever we visited and an opportunity to hear some family stories that were new to us.