Obituary of Gail Bates

Gail Elaine Bates,

July 10, 1950 – April 23, 2023

Gail Elaine Bates (nee Cochrane) passed away suddenly at Lakeridge Health Oshawa on April 23, 2023.  Beloved Wife of Bernie for 50 years. Cherished Mother of Tom, Darin (Carrie) and Colin (Sandi). Nana of Evan, Marisa, Lucas, Chandler, Zoey, Lilly and Jack. Daughter of William Thomas (pre-deceased) & Phyllis Eileen (pre-deceased) and Daughter-in-law of Adrian (pre-deceased) & Florence Bates.

Gail will be missed by sisters Lynn (Martin) and Dawn (Shawn) and her stepfather, Clive Morres. She will also be missed by her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Linda (Kevin), Kenny (pre-deceased) (Jean), Karen (Leonard), Paul (Pearl), Don (pre-deceased), Julie (Terry), Priscilla (James), Vincent (pre-deceased) and Brian, as well as her many nieces and nephews.

Gail grew up as an Air Force brat, moving from base to base across Canada and Europe and learned the value of adapting to new situations at an early age. Following graduation from high school in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, she attended nursing school at Sydney City Hospital School of Nursing in Sydney, Nova Scotia.  It was here that she met the love of her life, her husband Bernie and his large Cape Breton family. They married after her graduation from nursing school and after short stints working in Halifax, Toronto and Hamilton, Gail and Bernie moved to Oshawa where they settled for over 40 years.

Gail’s children were her pride and joy and she supported them by volunteering at their soccer games, hockey games and many of the community events they all attended, all while working as a nurse at the Whitby General and Bowmanville Hospital, with the operating room being her area of preference.

After retiring, Gail volunteered with many community organizations in Oshawa. Gail actively volunteered as a member of the Oshawa Lions, starting out as a Secretary with the Oshawa West Lions and then moving onto President of the Oshawa Airport Lions. She took on many mantles and had a great deal of satisfaction in what she was able to accomplish.  Always willing to throw her hat in the ring, this past weekend she was elected as the Lion Zone 33 Chairman.

She ran for office twice, once as a member of the Green Party of Canada and once for the office of City Councillor. She was appointed to sit in the Oshawa City Council when an interim position was offered to her. Gail enjoyed the year and a half of service spent on council where she loved serving the community where she raised her family.

Visitation will be held at the DeStefano Funeral Home. 1289 Keith Ross Drive in Oshawa (905) 440 3595 on Thursday April 27, 2023  12 - 2:30 p. A  Lions Service will be held at  2:30 - 3:00pm pm, followed by the Funeral Service at 3:00pm

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, https://www.heartandstroke.ca, Guide Dogs of Canada, https://www.guidedogs.ca or the Lions Clubs Camp Kirk Foundation, https://www.lionsclubscampkirkfoundation.com