von Appen, Bridget Ann
January 14, 1923 – March 23, 2016

Bridget’s sweet and stubborn heart beat 93 years before she slept a last time after a goodnight kiss from Rigo, her great love, travelling companion and husband of 56 years. Tough, kind, funny and unreasonable whenever she felt the need, Bridget emigrated from her rural birthplace in Grange, Ireland, meeting Rigo at a Germania Club dance in Hamilton, Ontario in 1959. She liked his manners. They were engaged three months later and married in August of 1960. Rigo was a steelworker and Bridget managed the house, the boys, and the shiftwork. Her work life was defined by caring – from assisting in a children’s tonsillectomy clinic at St. Joseph’s Hospital, through the raising of her family, to a later career as a visiting homemaker, where she learned the graceful ways of growing old. She delighted in her granddaughter, Lucy, leading her on Easter eggs hunts as a toddler and marveling later when she left for university to study engineering. Bridget was a cool hand on your forehead when you were sick. She was sweet, yellow bread when you were hungry. She was a hard eye and a quick step when you needed defense. She was a giggling girl when the jokes flew. Her men adored and honoured her. Our heartfelt thanks to the people of The Wellington Nursing Home who listened and laughed with Bridget, calmed her anxious nights and eased her pain. Bridget is survived by her husband Rigo, her son David and his partner Dean McMaster, son Kevin, wife Diana and granddaughter Lucy, nieces Angela Mays and husband Doug, Teri Crockford and husband Stephen, Cathy Hrymak and husband Andrew, Brenda Novak and husband Jim, and their families. In Ireland, she is survived by the children of her late brothers Tom and Jack and surviving sisters in law Bernie and Theresa. In England, she is survived by the children of her late sister, Josephine. She is loved and missed by her sister in law in Germany, Lisa and husband Hans along with six nieces and nephews. She is also loved and missed by Diana and Kevin’s extended family. Visitation will be held at P.X. DERMODY FUNERAL HOME, 796 Upper Gage Ave. (between Mohawk and Fennell) on Thursday March 31, 2016 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, 416 Mohawk Rd E, Hamilton, on Friday, April 1 at 12 pm. There will be a short reception at the Church following the Mass, with interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Ancaster.

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