Fernande “Fern” Maria Caley
elevated SM3Fz March 31, 1933 ~ January 17, 2026
elevated SM3Fz Funeral Mass
Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.
Chapel of St. Joseph at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6
elevated SM3Fz Interment
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery – Section 22
elevated SM3Fz Reception
Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home following the interment
elevated SM3Fz Obituary
It is with great sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of Fernande Maria Caley (nee Gosselin) on January 17, 2026, at Scarborough General Hospital, with her loving family by her side, at the age of 92.
elevated SM3Fz Fern was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on March 31, 1933, as the eleventh child to Philippe and Cora Gosselin.
elevated SM3Fz Fern enjoyed singing and while in school was the main soloist at every concert. She also entered many talent shows and sang at weddings and funerals. Fern disliked school and as a result, she left high school after completing 10th Grade. She got her first job at Agnew Surplus Shoe Store.
elevated SM3Fz In July 1951, at the age of 18, Fern traveled to Toronto, Ontario to give her sister Bernie a hand with her growing family. Fern adjusted quickly to Toronto and decided to stay.
elevated SM3Fz In December 1951, Fern’s Aunt Josie and Uncle Fred introduced Fern to a handsome man named Bob Caley. On April 25, 1953, Fern and Bob were married. Fern worked as a mother and homemaker while at the same time working outside of the home at Eaton’s, Lily Cups, and Quality Records.
elevated SM3Fz Fern enjoyed watching movies and Jays games, playing cards, playing the slots at the Casino, live theatre, bowling, walking shopping malls and gardening. She was a fantastic gardener and took pride in having a beautiful lawn and flower beds.
elevated SM3Fz She loved socializing with family and friends. She would strike up conversations easily with just about anyone. A real social butterfly!
elevated SM3Fz Fern was a very kind, compassionate and unselfish woman who always put others before herself. She was a nurturer at heart who loved taking care of others. If any of us were sick or hospitalized, she was there doing all she could to care for us and dote on us. She would have made a great nurse, as when any of us were in the hospital, she not only took care of us, she checked in on the other patients around us, making sure they were comfortable, asking if they need anything or advocating for them by getting the nurse. This even extended into her own hospital stays. When she broke her ankle and was suppose to focus on her healing, she was more concerned with the other patients in her room. She was always wanting to help others in any way she could. She was very giving and always helped others less fortunate, donating to various charities and buying toys for the Christmas toy drive every year.
elevated SM3Fz She absolutely loved children but went crazy over babies! She had even told us how she at one time had a job back in Winnipeg where she worked in the hospital nursery holding the babies, which she loved so much. For this reason, her grandchildren were very special to her and she often sang the song “A Bushel and a Peck” to them.
elevated SM3Fz She was always loving, affectionate and a real jokester with a great sense of humour. We will certainly miss her laugh and her hugs.
elevated SM3Fz She was a loving mother to her children Deborah, Ron and Chris. Loving Nanny to her grandchildren; Krystle (Aleks), Jessica (Kahra), Brandon, Ryan and Miranda. Dear sister of Anita (Jim).
elevated SM3Fz She is now reunited with her beloved husband Robert, dear son Ron, daughter-in-law Julie, and granddaughter Brittany. She is also reunited with her sisters: Fabiola, Albina, Terry, Bernie, Audrey, Lucy, Angie, Gisele (Jiggs), and Jeannette; as well as her brothers: Lou, Romeo, Joe, and Rollie.
elevated SM3Fz Fern will be sadly missed and held dear in the hearts of her extended family and friends. She will be lovingly remembered and never forgotten.
elevated SM3Fz Your thoughts and kindness are truly appreciated during this time of sorrow.
elevated SM3Fz In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask you to donate to Fern’s favourite charity, in her honour, Sleeping Children Around the World and/or the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
elevated SM3Fz
We won’t be able to attend as we will still be in Florida but our thoughts are with you Debbie and Chris. Fern had a very long, and until the last few years, a very good life. Our memories of growing up with her and your family will never be forgotten. Debbie your caring for your mom was truly amazing and you should be very proud of yourself.
Thank you for your kind words Glenn. It means alot. We sure have a lot of wonderful memories to hold. 💝
Thank you for your kind words Glenn. It means alot. We sure have a lot of wonderful memories to hold onto. 💝
on behalf of the our Perdue family, my sincere condolences to all of you for the loss of your wonderful mom, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. Her wisdom and generous heart touched so many she truly made the world a brighter place when someone you love becomes a memory that memory becomes a treasure Auntie Fernie will live on in all of our hearts. ❤️🙏❤️🙏. her infectious laugh will be remembered so fondly ❤️
Thanks Kim for all your love and support. 💖💞
My heart goes out to you and Chris and all your loved ones. I have fond memories of her and all our visits as kids. She always treated Kim and I like her own. Glad you were with her holding her hand at the end. She will be welcomed in heaven by all her loved ones that predeceased her. My prayers are with all of you during this very sad time.
Thank you Denise for your kind words. My mom was a very special woman, with a amazingly big heart. ❤️ She was my best friend. I’m just glad she’s finally at peace and not suffering any more. She will be dearly missed. 😢💔
Aunt Fern will be forever missed. She was a wonderful Aunt to me and I hold cherished memories of our time spent together during my youth. May she rest in peace 💕
Thank you Sandy. 💖 We definitely had a lot of greats times together when we were kids. As you said, my mom is now in a better place. I know she is watching over us.
We are so sorry for your loss. Our deepest condolences to Debbie, Chris, the entire family and friends.
Our sincere wishes that your lovely memories of Fern will comfort you at this difficult time and live in your hearts forever.
We’re thinking of you and wishing you peace and comfort.
Thank you Linda and Pat for your kind words and heartfelt condolences. Mom’s service was small but nice. Mom would have turned 93 in March. She lived a long and good life, but it was her time to go. I could see it in her eyes. I’m sure that Ron was waiting for her with open arms.
I lost my mom on January 17th. Without a doubt, her spirit left her frail body on that day and immediately rose to the heavens above, where she found eternal peace. I’m sure the first person waiting for her, with opens arms, was her son Ron. Beyond The Gates, would be an army of loved ones and friends, who had died before her.
My mom was such an amazing person, with the biggest, most giving heart. Everyone loved her. The two of us did so much together. She was my mom and my best friend. I will miss her dearly. Thank God no one can take away my lifetime of treasured memories. REST IN PEACE MOM, until we meet again. I love you to the moon and back. 💔😢💞💖
My dear sweet Nanny passed away on January 17, 2026 at 5:30pm.
She must have been waiting for me to get to the hospital as she passed just 10 minutes after I arrived, while my mother and I held her hands. Not nearly enough time to tell her just how thankful I am to have had her in my life for the past 44 years, but what I did tell her, I hope she heard.
Nanny was like a second mom to me as she played a big part in helping to raise me while my mom was at work.
She was there when I got home from school and we would watch Sesame Street, Polk-a-Dot-Door and The Elephant Show together. As I got older we enjoyed watching Matlock, Golden Girls, Price is Right and Wheel of Fortune together.
She helped me with my homework, made me dinners, bathed me, sang songs with me, read to me, took me to the park, to the Bluffs, to dance lessons, taught me how to wrap gifts, took me to get ice cream or slurpees, to Blockbuster to rent movies when I stayed over at her house, the list goes on and on.
She cared for me when I was sick and helped me after my jaw surgery and, maybe TMI, but she was there when I got my first period. She attended every talent show and play I was in.
She taught me to help those in need by taking me with her to buy toys for the toy drive at Christmas and bringing them to the big toy drive drum at McDonald’s to donate them. To this day, I still give to the toy drive every year because of this.
We enjoyed watching movies together or just sitting out on her front porch in the summertime. I loved sitting on her porch in the summer after I washed my hair and she would brush it for me on her porch. So many wonderful cherished memories at her house on Sharpe Street, both times when I was there alone with her and all the fun family get togethers she hosted. How I wish I could go back to those days when the whole family got together and had so much fun. Now so many of those family members have passed or went separate ways. As a child I never imaged some day those days would permanently come to an end.
She was selfless, putting others before herself always, affectionate, kind, loving and fun. She had a great sense of humour and we had lots of laughs together.
She will be greatly missed, but she had a long, beautiful life and I take comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering and was greeted in heaven by so many other family members who have passed before her. Especially Ron, Julie and Brittany.
RIP Nan. Thank you for being such an amazing Nanny and for everything you have done for us all. I will miss you and until I see you again,
“I love you, a bushel and a peck, a bushel and peck and a hug around the neck. A hug around the neck and a barrel and heap. A barrel and a heap and I’m talking in my sleep about you. I love you, a bushel and a peck, you bet your pretty neck I do.
I do a doodle oodle ooh doo
a doodle oodle ooh doo
A doodle oodle oodle ooh doo”
Thank you so much sweetie for posting such a beautiful tribute to your Nan. She loved you so much and she was so proud to call you her granddaughter. I’m so glad that your Nan helped raise you. I could go to work every day and not worry about you. Mom enjoyed every precious moment she spent with you. She truly was the best and we will miss her dearly.
💔🥺😢💞