Geraldine Burnside

We sadly announce the passing of Geraldine Burnside on September 24, 2026. She died peacefully in Hospital at the age of 89.

Beloved mother of Colleen, Dan and Sharon Rafuse. A loving grandmother to Rodney, Jeffrey, Sheryl, Brittney and Brandon as well as great-grandmother to Ashley, Jade and Mackenzie.

Predeceased by her parents Samuel and Helen Burnside. Lovingly remembered by her brother Tommy (Letty), sister Violet (Vince) and their families.

She was born in Montreal, Quebec on February 28, 1937. She married Hector Rafuse at the age of 18 where they shortly moved to Gatineau, Quebec and raised a family of three children. She remained in the Gatineau area until her passing. She was a successful businesswoman with multiple career highlights from being a Tupperware Manager to working at the House of Commons as a transcript reporter to her final career as Manager at a personnel agency in Ottawa.

Friends and Family are invited to a Memorial Service on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 1:00PM in the Sacred Space of Beechwood National Memorial Centre (280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa), with an Inurnment in Beechwood’s Mausoleum and a Reception to follow at the Beechwood Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society.