GEERTSEN, Erik Normann
Following the discovery of cancer, Erik Normann Geertsen, son of Edit Clausen and Svend Gustav Normann Geertsen, husband of Maryse Turcot, father of Elizabeth Geertsen, Friederik Geertsen (Nateisha Riddell) grandfather to Leyla Aldana-Geertsen, Maëlla Riddell-Geertsen and Trevaughn Riddell-Geertsen, left this earth on June 15th 2021 for a better world as he loved to say. We miss him every day as he was a good man, a generous and spiritual person. He knew how to appreciate the simple and beautiful pleasures that life would bring his way, like spending joyous times with family and friends. He was so proud of having such a beautiful family. He has touched all of us with his warmth, his sense of humor, his contagious laugh and his love for life and people. We now keep him dearly in our hearts.
Erik’s eulogy by Mette Juul, September 11th 2021
Dear Maryse, Elizabeth and Friederik, Today the circle of Erik's living life is closing. You will follow your beloved husband and father to his last resting place, Bispebjerg Kirkegard Askefaellesgrav. In the burial ground where also his parents rest. And from the Sankt Stefans Church in Copenhagen where you followed his mother, your mother-in-law and grandmother to her last resting place years ago.
As a young and adventurous man Erik travelled to Canada at the age of 20. A young man travelling from tiny, tiny Denmark to large British Columbia. A place more than 20 times the size of Denmark but with the same population. It must have felt desolated compared to densely populated Denmark and Copenhagen. At that time no one had invented the Internet and one can wonder whether Erik had any idea what to expect? But Erik met this challenge with great courage and a huge appetite for life. And great courage and a huge appetite for life was characteristic for Erik. I believe you can say that he seized opportunities. He had a varied work experience starting with the Danish army as a conscript, he worked in the mine industry in British Columbia, he was in trading business, and he drove trucks and taxis when he turned to Quebec. He was passionate about spirituality and that passion turned out to become life defining for him, because that´s where he met you, Maryse, in 79´. You were his teaching assistant in tai chi classes and your cooperation turned out to be life lasting. In ´84 you married and in the same year Elizabeth was born. The ground was founded for a warm and caring family life. At that time a long-life conversation also started, and that conversation did not really stop until the day Erik passed away. You and your Dad, Friederik, could talk for hours. You were a great couple, your Dad talking, explaining, and sharing his experiences and your ability and joy in listening and learning. With Erik's great interest in and knowledge about literature, science, World War II and so on there were always thousands of things to learn and to discuss. I believe that you already miss those conversations a lot. Erik did not only talk with the three of you. He was deeply interested in other people, and he could talk to anybody. A great ability for a man who was also involved in and cared for social work and social psychology. The circle of Erik took its beginning in Denmark. He was led to Canada because of love. And you are now returning him to Denmark because of love – respecting that he was Danish in his heart. Love followed him all the way on his long journey. From the very beginning to the very end. The song that Erik liked a lot, but which would be too difficult for us to sing today is about love. It says: Kald det kærlighed Kald det lige hvad du vil Å-u-åh der findes ingen ord Ingen ord der helt slår til Så kald det lige hvad du vil Call it love Call it whatever you like Oh-u-oh there are no words No words that completely describe it So, call it whatever you like Even though that the song cannot describe love, I am sure that both the three of you and Erik know what love is. Now, Erik is in the hands of God. The big, strong hands that brought him to this world, that protected him during his life and that now care for him having left life. He is now in the hands of God just like he himself was in the protecting big and strong hands of his own father and his grandfather. And just like Erik held your hand Maryse and carried the two of you when you were small kids. The big and strong hands that protected your family. Shortly, it is time for the three of you to carry Erik in your hands to his last resting place and close the circle of his life.
Psalm 63 of David says: You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
The circle of Erik is now closing and a new circle for the three of you will take its beginning. As Thomas said the other day, grief is love – but love must now find a new shape. Your relationship with your dearest husband and father continues in a new circle that will start now. Honor be Erik's memory. Amen.
