Anna Ruth Rogers

The Rogers family are sad to announce the passing of Anna Ruth Rogers, peacefully in her home in Halifax, on January 18, 2025 at the age of 93. Anna Ruth was born in Digby, Nova Scotia on January 6, 1932, the daughter of William Reynolds Harris and Gertrude Eleanor (Journeay) Harris. She grew up in Weymouth until she moved with her parents to Halifax in 1941. She attended Halifax Ladies’ College from 1941 – 1948; followed by University of King’s College where she graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts. She then travelled to Montreal and obtained a Bachelor of Library Science degree at McGill in 1953. She accepted a position as a librarian in Annapolis Royal, where her duties included adventures on a sometimes unreliable bookmobile that traversed the Annapolis Valley on even more unreliable roads.

While working in Annapolis, Anna Ruth met Roderick MacLeod (Mac) Rogers and they married in Weymouth in 1956. Anna Ruth and Mac welcomed their three children, John, Ann and Rory while living in Dartmouth and Bedford, before moving to Digby in 1968. Anna Ruth, for a time, returned to work as a teacher-librarian at Digby Regional High School. She also immersed herself in a variety of community activities including the Digby Hospital Auxiliary, Trinity Anglican Church Guild and as a founding member of the Admiral Digby Historical Society, which bestowed Honourary Life Membership status upon her.

Wherever Anna Ruth lived, she established a home where all were welcome with warmth, good food and hospitality, as well as understanding and comfort. Although we were firmly instructed to limit the adjectives in this obituary, we would be remiss if we did not note that she was an excellent cook and baker, enjoyed a stiff scotch, and was unfazed no matter how many arrived at her door or for how long they stayed, even when it was at times measured in months. The friendships and connections she has made will leave holes in the lives of many. Her generosity and friendship to family and friends will be very much missed.

Anna Ruth’s heart – and her favorite place – was always Weymouth and the “Weymouth House”, which was built by her grandparents in 1899 and has remained in the family ever since. Anna Ruth continued to spend summers there even through last year and she always brightened up at the prospect of seeing friends and family there during the summers. Anna Ruth’s grandchildren have strong ties to the Weymouth House, with regular visits and memories of tins full of chocolate chip cookies, jigsaw puzzles, dress up boxes, and endless games on the front lawn. We will miss seeing her enjoying a coffee and a book on the hammock on the front veranda.

Anna Ruth was a voracious reader and kept multiple libraries busy addressing numerous and eclectic book requests. Anna Ruth will be remembered for her love of family and friends, her rug hooking, knitting and quilting skills, her talent at hosting including legendary family “soup Saturdays”, and her skill at early “peeking” at Christmas presents.

Anna Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Hon. R. MacLeod (Mac) Rogers. She is survived by her children, John (Lisa Rounsefell); Ann Jones (Martin Jones); Rory (Trish); her grandchildren: David Jones (Emma Poirier); Catherine Jones (Evan Caldwell); Laura (Billy Andrews); Neil; Jillian (George Warburton); Leslie; Colin; and great granddaughter, Eleanor Warburton.

The family extend thanks for the care and friendship provided to Anna Ruth by her caregivers and, particularly, Dapheney Stevenson and Corrina Mitchell, and for the many friendships from a full and long life.

There will be a visitation (fittingly at a library), in Paul O’Regan Hall in the Halifax Central Library on Sunday, February 2, from 7pm to 9pm. There will be a funeral service at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Weymouth North, N.S. on Saturday, February 8 at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice or the Arthritis Society Canada.