Rosa Morford

95 Donkin

It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our dear mother, Rosalind Edith (Childs) Morford, whom we believe our father, her beloved Victor, came for on Friday December 5, 2014 to take her home.

Rosa was born in London, England on September 25, 1919. She was the middle daughter of George and Alice (Scott) Childs. She is survived and will be greatly missed by her younger sisters Nellie Dinnebier, Alberta and Joy Bush, England; sister-in-law Mary Kelloway, Donkin; daughters Linda (Eric) MacKay, Donkin; Jean (Richard) Gardiner, Glace Bay; Patricia (Vince) George, Alberta; Eileen (Harris) Martin, Donkin; Glynis (Brent) Clarke, Donkin; sons Richard, Donkin; Derek (Michele) Donkin; Stephen, Ottawa; Kent (Mary Fraser), Donkin. Also surviving are 17 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren, her War Bride “sisters”, special friends Muriel McLellan and Galina Halden as well as many nieces and nephews.

Mum was a WAAF accounts clerk for the Royal Air Force in London during the Second World War. She met and fell in love with a young Canadian soldier of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, our dad. They married and had their first child, Linda. Victor returned to Canada following the war and although Mum was now a singer in a band, in June of 1946, with her baby, she followed her heart and Victor to Canada to become one of the many Canadian War Brides. She didn’t enter the workforce again until 1976 when she became a PCW at the newly opened Seaview Manor where she enjoyed caring for the elderly until her retirement.

Mum was a member of St. Luke’s Anglican Church, St. Luke’s Church Choir and the U.C.W., Branch #5 Legion in Donkin, Glace Bay Garden Club, Queen Victoria Rebekah Lodge and the Cape Breton War Brides. She loved gardening, playing the piano, singing, writing, knitting, travelling and dancing with Victor, and baking with her grandchildren. Until her eyesight failed, she took pleasure in doing puzzles, cryptoquotes and playing scrabble with family or on her computer.

Besides her adoring parents, Rosa was predeceased by her loving husband Victor in April of 2000, after 56 years of a wonderful marriage; her elder sisters, Alice and Doris; her sisters-in-law Iris, Ruby, Ollie, Amy, Rosie and Gloria; as well as a granddaughter and a great granddaughter, both in infancy.

Rosa’s family would like to thank those caregivers at Taigh Na Mara Nursing Home in Glace Bay who were so kind to her and would like to extend a special thank you to young volunteer Chelsey who helped to make Mum’s stay there so much brighter.

There will be no visitation. Cremation has taken place. Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 12, 2014 at 11 am at St. Luke’s United Church in Donkin with the Reverend Bob Biggar and the Reverend Vernon Reid officiating. Reception will follow in the church hall.

Private family committal will take place at Forest Haven. Donations in Mum’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society or a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Patten Funeral Home, 71 Union Street, Glace Bay.

Online condolences can be sent to the family www.pattenfuneral.com

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die (Thomas Campbell)

My epitaph? I loved to laugh (Rosa Morford, September 25, 1919 – December 5, 2014)