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Geraldine Pearl Hutchison LaChance (January 5, 1925 – August 6, 2017)
Gerry LaChance of Collingwood died unexpectedly yet peacefully on August 6th at the age of 92. Born in Medicine Hat, Alberta to Pearl and Allan Hutchison, younger sister to Don and Jack, she grew up during the drought and the Great Depression. At 18, Gerry joined the Wrens as a naval plotter and served overseas during WWII. Following the war, she attended the University of Toronto where she met her husband Bill. They graduated together in Phys Ed, Class of ’48 and lovingly raised six children: Jean, Allan (Laura), Bill, Tony (Dahna), Deanie (Bob), and Michele (Paul). The family were early members of Craigleith Ski Club where the third generation continues to ski. At the age of 43, Gerry earned her teaching degree and worked as a teacher, coach, and guidance counsellor. After retirement, she and Bill followed a dream to live on their boat “Sightseer III” and sailed the Caribbean for almost ten years. Once home, Gerry pursued her passion for bridge becoming an awarded teacher, director and ACBL Life Master. She developed one of the largest recreational bridge clubs in North America, the Collingwood Social Duplicate Bridge Club, and was awarded the Order of Collingwood for her work in the community. Over the years she taught hundreds of students and continued to teach, organize and play bridge until the day before her death. Gerry was an athlete, a teacher, a skier, a sailor, a tireless traveller, a student of the world, and a lifelong lover of sunsets. She will be forever in the hearts of her husband of 68 years, her children, her 10 grandchildren: Frazer, Kevin, Carina, Derek, Emma, Rylee, Sylvian, Cedar, Fox and Robin and all those who knew and loved her.
At Gerry’s request there will be no funeral. The celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, August 23rd at 1pm at the Leisure Time Club, 100 Minnesota Street, Collingwood. Memorial donations may be made to the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital Foundation.

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