Gertrude Sanderson (née Kearns) passed away peacefully on June 11, 2021, at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish.

Born in London, Ontario on April 20, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Thomas Phillip and Helen (Koehler) Kearns.

Gertrude attended Western University, studied at the Sorbonne, and in 1960 married the love of her life, George. Together they travelled and studied in Europe prior to settling in Antigonish.

Gertrude taught French and Spanish at St. Francis Xavier University in the Department of Modern Languages and served as Department Head for ten years prior to her retirement. For over thirty years Gertrude and George worked tirelessly in producing The Antigonish Review since its inception in 1969, with she becoming managing editor and George editor in 1980. Gertrude was an accomplished translator and was awarded the F.R. Scott Translation Award in 1986 for her French to English translation of Jacques Brault‘s Within The Mystery.

Gertrude was a passionate scholar and teacher with intense interest in her students. Her love and passion extended outward to others, her extended family, and many friends. Her intellectual focus was broad and earnest. Gertrude loved nothing more than a good discussion on a multitude of subjects. Her greatest gift in this respect was her ability to facilitate spirited dialogue.

Gertrude was predeceased by her loving husband George Stephen Sanderson in 2005. Vital and loving to the end, Gertrude leaves behind her two sons, Eric and fiancée Megan Provost, Toronto; and Brendan, Antigonish; granddaughter, Candace; brother Tom Kearns and family; close cousin, Joan MacKinny; stepmother, Betty Dirks; half-sister, Mary Dallon; brother-in-law, Stephen Sanderson and spouse Nancy; sister-in-law, Géri McLean (née Sanderson) and spouse Robert "Bud"; and brother-in-law, Stanley Mizgala;

Besides her husband, she is predeceased by sister-in-law, Sylvia Mizgala (née Sanderson).

There is no funeral scheduled at this time.