Let’s Meet Gail

Gail Burgess lives at the Villa in Petrolia, and has resided here since February 2020. Gail is the President of the Residents Council. Gail has many friends here and her interests include going on shopping trips, meal outings, playing cards and other games like bingo, as well she enjoys listening to music that is provided by music therapist, Laura.

Gail was born in Rosemont, Montreal, where she grew up and met Jeff. Gail met her husband Jeff at school, where they became high school sweethearts and married a few years after graduation. Gail and Jeff had two boys during their 26-year marriage. Gail currently has 5 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson.

Photo of a young Gail Burgess. (Photo provided by Gail Burgess)

Gail, Jeff, and their first son Ed, made the move from Montreal to Forest ON, in 1977, all while Gail was pregnant with her second son, Joe. They lived in Forest a short time before moving to a home on Princess Street in Petrolia. Gail’s children continued to grow up in Petrolia, while she worked at the Petrolia Community Services Centre. While in this role, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1988. In 1992, Jeff’s workplace wanted him to move to London ON, as he was working for the London Free Press. Gail began working as a data analyzer across many hospitals in London and Chatham. She worked in this position for 5 years until her MS worsened, causing her an early retirement. Shortly after this happened, her husband passed. Jeff was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer and battled his illness for 3 months. She heavily mourned Jeff after his passing. She lived in many towns after Jeff passed and eventually settled in the Sarnia-Lambton area. Gail spent a lot of her free time volunteering in many different places.