Rose Lange Peake

Rose was born in London England, the youngest child to Lange and Jean Miller. At age 2, Rose was orphaned along with her sisters, Lena (4) and Angela (6). They lived together in Dr Barnardo’s Girls’ Village/orphanage in Barkingside Essex. A few months later Lena was adopted and was never again seen by her sisters. This caused a void for Angela and Rose for the rest of their lives. When the war started in 1939 the girls were evacuated away from the London area and spent several years moving between foster homes. Although in close proximity, Angela and Rose never lived together. Eventually, in 1944 Rose moved to Broadway in the Cotswolds where she stayed with her foster family until school graduation. This gave Rose stability to meet friends, work in the orchards in the summer and enjoy school. She made lifelong bonds with her field hockey chums. Rose attended teacher’s college in Bristol in 1951 where she met Les Peake on the tennis team. They married in August, 1954. A few years after, in 1956 opportunity came knocking. There were lots of teaching jobs in Canada! They moved across the Atlantic to Magog in the Eastern townships of Quebec. Andrea was born in January 1959 in Magog. The family then moved to Montreal where Alison was born in December 1960. Both the culture and the weather were different from the old Country so the decision was to move the family back to England in 1962. After 18 months of catching up with family and working they decided that Canada was going to truly be their home for good. They crossed the Atlantic on a CP steam liner arriving in Montreal where they made their home for five years. Once again opportunity knocked. The political climate in Quebec was changing; the extreme winter weather was too long. Time to head west! Rose and family arrived in Victoria in 1968. She had found her home! Rose taught at St Margaret’s School, Crofton Elementary, Somenos Elementary and George Bonner. There was a lot of commuting up and down the Malahat. She eventually retired due to medical issues. Rose loved her golf and her buddies at Royal Colwood Golf Course. She played until she was 80. Rose loved a good party and if it included dressing up and playing the part then all the better! Some epic Halloween costumes emerged over the years. Rose lived on the water front in Vic West looking over the harbor for 30 years and loved her view from Seaforth Woods. Her exercise equipment stuffed her balcony to have the best view of the Coho ferry arriving in the morning while on her elliptical! Her partner of 20 years, Bill Law was by her side on many adventures. They loved to cruise, travel to Hawaii and Britain together. Bill passed away in December 1994 at age 65. Rose moved to Shannon Oaks in 2017 and enjoyed her new friendships with her dining buddies. In 2018 Rose moved to Sunrise Retirement Home. Despite her blindness and mobility she remained stoic and pragmatic to the end. Special thanks to Dr Rosenberg and Dr Manning for your outstanding support and to Sunrise care workers especially George and Janet. Rose leaves behind her daughter Andrea Peake, granddaughter, Terrin Trotter and daughter Alison Hastings (Garth), granddaughters, Alexandra and Caitlin Hastings. A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, October 20th from 2-4pm at 3341 Woodburn Avenue.