Geraldine E. “Gerry” Fordyce was born to Hector Fordyce and Elizabeth Wikeem.

Geraldine (Gerry) E. Fordyce

Gerry began her life in Winnipeg living in the Wikeem family home on Polson Avenue with her parents and three generations of family members. She was the first grandchild and the youngest member of the extended family. She was loved and spoiled and recalls the wonderful aromas of Lebanese cooking coming from Grandma’s kitchen. At a very young age Gerry began school and her journey in faith as she started taking herself off to the church next door for Sunday School lessons. A variety of church settings included Grandma bringing her to Sts. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral to be baptized. Starting girl guides at The Salvation Army saw in later years Gerry leaving for Toronto to be trained and ordained as a Salvation Army officer. Her ministry included churches in Ontario, Saskatchewan and then Canyon City, an indigenous community in northern B.C. In Canyon City, Gerry and a colleague taught school, ran the dispensary, and facilitated the many church activities. For Gerry, this time provided a rich experience and lifelong story telling. Eager to pursue her education Gerry enrolled first at Prairie Bible Institute and participated in mission trips to California. This was followed by studies at the University of Calgary where she attained a Bachelor in Social Work with distinction.

She had close family time in Alberta with mom Betty and stepfather Harold on their farm and her young brother Bob moving into her Calgary apt at a time in Bob’s life when sisterly influence was life changing. After eight years working for the City of Calgary Gerry and her friend Doreen traveled for a year around the world spending time at mission stations and countries of interest. Upon return she left Alberta to study at UBC culminating in a Master of Social Work degree. Her move to Vancouver B.C. opened many doors in her ministry career and to lifelong relationships. On the career side Pastor Bernice Gerrard hired Gerry as a chaplain at UBC and Simon Fraser Universities. Her roles at the Fraserview Assembly Church included setting up a weekly Bible School, counselling services, children’s daycare centre and a teaching and preaching ministry with invitations to conduct retreats in the USA and Canada. Along the way her friendship with Jack Taylor was a deep companionship until Jack’s passing. Years later from Gerry’s youth The Salvation Army was re-introduced in meeting up with a new friend of now forty years Christine MacMillan. Gerry visited Chris in her places of ministry including the UK, Australia, and NYC. Gerry was then hired to commence and direct The Salvation Army Kate Booth House for battered women and children. A very key support and close relationship in Gerry’s life was with her cousin Sister Susan Wikeem where Gerry stayed in her home for the many Winnipeg visits to her family. In later years Susan spent Christmas with Gerry in Vancouver. Her brother Bob’s untimely death in his mid thirties in the sinking of the oil rig off the coast of Newfoundland, on Valentine’s Day was an unexpected sorrow. His young 12-year-old son Troy at the time had Gerry pour into her nephew’s life a love that in his adulthood has his Auntie Gerry as an unforgettable support. Gerry’s retirement in 1999 from official roles had her generosity of time well spent, whether sharing a coffee with her friends at McDonalds, offering prayerful support on the many phone calls and sharing joy with family and friends while supporting numerous charitable needs reaching out into the sufferings of our world. We hear her in the last few months of declining health say over and over again: “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. Romans 8: 38 – 39.

• Standard Bearers Session
• 1931 Canadian Census
• Find a Grave
• Hector Fordyce, Find a Grave
• Obituary