Obituary

Robin H. (Geddes) Berger passed away peacefully on October 22, 2025, at age 81 at Headwaters Healthcare Centre in Orangeville, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on January 24, 1944, in Walkerton, Ontario to Homer and Ruth Geddes and is survived by her sister Meredith, pre-deceased by her brother Scott. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Lou, her children Heidi (Brett), Leah (Pat) and Jon (Katrina) and grandchildren Mia, Lauren and Luke. Robin attended nursing school in 1962 at Toronto Western Hospital and graduated with honors in 1965. Robin met her future husband, Lothar (Lou) who was studying to become a chemical engineer at the University of Toronto. Lou and Robin married on July 17, 1965. After graduation, she was a nurse at Humber Memorial Hospital 1965-1968. She taught full time at Credit Valley School of Nursing from 1968-1974. She was employed with Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health Unit (WDGPH) from September 1974 to January 2011. Robin retired at the age of 68 years old after 37 years of service working for WDGPH. She was WDGPH’s longest serving public health nurse and first ever lactation consultant. She has been an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) since 1994 (recertified in 1999, 2004, 2009, and rewrote and passed the IBCLC exam in 2014) and Member of ICLA/CLCA (Canadian Lactation Consultant Association) since 1994. She was instrumental in starting the community breastfeeding centre in Orangeville in 1996, which was initially situated at the old hospital but later moved to Headwaters Healthcare Centre and then into the local WPGPH health unit office. In May 2011, Robin went into private practice. She opened “Robin’s Nest- Where Breast is Best” a public drop in breastfeeding centre at the Centre Fellowship Church in Orangeville. She officially retired at the age of 79 in September 2023, just shy of 5 decades of service to her community. She published various articles in support of breastfeeding and received many honours and accolades over her career. Most recently in May, she was awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal which recognized her exemplary contributions to her community and country. She will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication to families and friends. Robin’s legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday November 18th from 2-6pm at In Memoriam (28 Main Street N., Grand Valley ON). Robin has chosen to continue serving and has donated her body to the University of Toronto so others may learn from her. In lieu of flowers, please support her two passions – reading books and breast feeding. For donations to the Centre Fellowship Church in Orangeville, please mail a cheque directly to the Church or e-transfer to info@inthecentre.ca. For donations to the Grand Valley Public Library, please send a cheque to the library directly. Online condolences can be made at www.imfunerals.com. In Memoriam Funeral Services Inc. has been given the honour of serving the Berger Family.