Our Beloved Gerrie was born in Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday 30th July, 1957, to Esther Francis & John Joseph Larkin

While Esther (Evelyn) was pregnant with Gerrie (Gerardine), she slipped getting on to a bus in Dublin, as the passengers helped Evelyn get up, one of the passengers suggested Evelyn pray to Saint Gerard, the patron saint of expectant mothers, for her protection, and when Gerrie was born, Esther & John, named her Gerardine, and there Gerrie’s name was born

Gerry born in the summer in July, lived up to her LEO the Lion star sign, full of fight, determination & spirit, in her home in Thornton Heath, she surrounded herself with holy relics and would not leave the house without blessing herself with holy water

Gerry had a great affection for pets, from the family dog Major, when she was three, to Bibby, Toby, Max, Sunny, Lucy over the years and to Sadie, Jack, Ollie & Snowy today, she certainly wanted to know “who let the dogs out” – and many other of Gerrie’s pets we have not mentioned

Gerrie moved from Ireland age three to Streatham, Wellfield Road then Hilldown Road, where our local church was St.Bartholemews, where Gerrie’s mother Esther was well known in the Parish

Gerrie had a passion for writing with her artistic flow and has had published as many as 30 poems, a selection of which will be published online on Gerrie’s memorial website

Gerrie took an interest to write to and spoil with gifts, to her niece Maia, and nephews Yonatan, Guy & Noam, her sister in law Michal & brother John and not an opportunity would be missed by Gerrie to write & mail a loving letter, with beautiful prose to her family, Gerrie was called “Our Favorite Auntie” by her family in Jerusalem

Gerrie followed her mother & father’s tradition of tithing to good causes & gives generously, especially to animal rescue charities and other pet care related charities, all her life she has adopted pets from rescue centers to care for in her loving home

If we have all day, we can talk about Gerrie’s love of music, from David Cassidy to David Bowie and often while travelling or on holidays would be invited to take the DJ console and organize the music selection, it is rare in Gerrie’s home not to have background music 24/7 around the clock, playing in one of the rooms. From the earliest age she could buy records, she would send her brother John or her Dad John, “up to the record shop in Norbury” to get this week’s latest record release. Despite her grave illness, even until her final moments she danced with her thoughts as Maia played Careless Whisper by George Michael to Gerrie

Gerrie lived with herself and her “zoo” as she would call it, but she was never alone, she would be chatting on one of her many phones, to her family in Jerusalem, her friends & family, near & far, whether it was email, WhatsApp or traditional long form handwritten cards, notes & letters