Rosalie Catherine Marks Rogers

Passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Guelph, on Friday, July 3rd, 2020 at the age of 82. She was the loving mother of Glenna Rogers (Stewart Sweeney), Mark Rogers (Tamra), Cheryl Rogers and Paula Rogers. Adored grandmother of Meredith Sweeney, Emma Rogers, Aidan Sweeney, Brooke Rogers, Joel Rogers, Bronwyn Sweeney and Malin Lajeunesse. She leaves behind her siblings Alberta Katz (Irwin), Deborah Marks (Dave Bois), Terry Marks (Linda), Gary Marks, sisters-in-law Linda Marks and Mary Esther Hicks (Bob) and brother-in-law Bill McCutcheon.

Rosalie is predeceased by her dear friend and companion Hugh Beaumont, her parents Albert and Ann Marks (nee Wallace) who were both born in Scotland and her brother Arnold Marks and sister ShirleyAnn McCutcheon. Rosalie will be sadly missed by her many nieces and nephews, family, friends and all that had the pleasure of meeting her.

Rosalie was the best Mother anyone could ask for, with unlimited love and support for her family. Her compassionate qualities reached beyond a loving mother. She will be missed for her endless thirst for knowledge, spunky enthusiasm, genuine interest and care for others and an unwavering love for life.

Rosalie was a mother and sister-in-one to her younger siblings and would often talk about how she would purchase clothing for her siblings, always ensuring that they were well put together. She told stories about how she would climb into the crib to get Debby to fall asleep. As she grew up, she stayed in touch with her siblings chatting with them on a regular basis over the phone and also travelling to the various places they lived at over the years.

She was a woman who always thrived on being able to do things without the help of others, yet still cherishing the company of her loved ones. She was generous and loving towards everyone that came into her life whether or not they were related by

blood. She accepted our friends as her own grandchildren and children. She always greeted you with a tight hug and a kiss and sometimes even a small pat on the toosh. She often complimented you on your clothes as she had an eye for fashion due to her past in the fabric industry.

She married at the very young age of 20 and was a stay at home mother until 1978. It was her dream to own her own fabric business and this dream became a reality. Rosalie managed all of this without her own car until the 1980’s. She opened her own store called Fabric Fair in Napanee. She taught sewing lessons and offered a wonderful service for many years. She had a sign in her store that read “Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears”. Her commitment to 4 children was unwavering, ensuring they had more than needed on one income. She also volunteered as a Sunday school teacher and leader of community groups. She achieved her Palliative Care Certificate in 1991.

Rosalie embraced a new lease on life in 2000 when she had the courage to become an independent woman. She moved to Guelph Ontario to live closer to three of her four adult children and grandbabies. Rosalie valued and missed the family and friends still in Napanee and kept in touch while making her new life in Guelph. Over the past 20 years she was able to contribute meaningful relationships with all 7 of her grandchildren and her own children.

During this time she embraced lifelong learning and technology. In fact, at eighty lively years old, she became a “tech savvy” grandma, making sure to comment on every post and share her kids and grandkids photos with pride to everyone on facebook. She had a gift of sitting back and enjoying the moment. Rosalie blossomed as she participated in dancing classes, aquafit, Riverside Park activities and local trips. She continued her travel adventures to the USA, East Coast and West Coast of Canada. Always thinking about others, she volunteered in several positions: St. Joseph’s 1:1 visitor, music assistant, volunteer driver for day program, The Feeling Better Program, Mothers with a Heart for Ethiopia, Guelph group, Gateway Drive Public School volunteer, Priory Park Volunteer, John McCrae and FA Hamilton volunteer as well as a volunteer on School trips, where she was honoured when classmates would ask if they could call her Grandma, too. Her volunteering also included financial contributions to the community and the Guelph Concert Band.

In 2006 she met and befriended the late Hugh Beaumont, who became an integral part of the Rogers family for 13 years and his devoted companion and caregiver. She loved going for drives with her companion Hugh either on their own or when they no longer had their license with Mark or Paula driving. They enjoyed sitting in front of the fire that Mark would make when they came for a family dinner and this was one of our last memories of them together at Christmas 2019.

Friends also played an integral role in Rosalie’s life, and she would often get together with her lifelong friend Patti Backich. Patti and Rosalie were born in the same year and month, and their friendship began as “ babies in the crib.” Over the years they always kept in touch enjoying visits to each other’s place and long phone calls.

Her grandkids often remembered her having a supply of juicy fruit gum and Dad’s Cookies on hand. When they injured themselves, she would give them a kiss on their boo boo and have a stern conversation with whatever object caused them harm.

When they got to be older and started to bring significant others into her home, she always had an initial conversation with them that sounded something like “I will scratch your eyes out if you hurt my baby”. When she got to know them, they became her own and she always spoke about how much she enjoyed seeing her grandkids. She was there for many of their important life events and will be watching over them for the rest soon to come.

She was very present in her grandbabies’ lives, whether it be graduating middle school, sports events, or a small school concert, and was sure to be fashionably early to cheer her babies on. She was happy to teach them how to make apple pies in her kitchen and always reminisced about her uncle Scottie who taught her how to cook and bake when she was younger. She truly mastered making apple pies and once one sold for $100 at a silent auction.

She was the best mother and mother-in-law that we could ever ask for. Rosalie and Tamra loved to share historical fiction books, go to the Symphony and enjoy a good cup o’ tea! A special cup of tea with Rosalie would leave you with a feeling of

peace and love in your heart beyond words. She was an avid reader and contributed right to the end by helping read and summarize books for Tamra in the school Library. She enjoyed speaking to the young students about the books and she would

often comment about how impressed she was with their reading reflections. She always had a positive encouraging thing to say and of course followed by a big hug.

A great listener, storyteller and most of all loving mother to all, she was the glue to many family get togethers. She was completely committed to spending time with family, whether it be the annual Marks family reunion, special times at a cottage or trips to the West and East coast. She made sure to kiss and express her love at every greeting and goodbye. She would never let you leave without a tight hug and we will forever be grateful that was how many of our last goodbyes were.

At Rosalie’s request, cremation has taken place. A private family service will be held at Gilbert MacIntyre & Son, Hart Chapel, 1099 Gordon St., Guelph on Friday, July 17th, 2020. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO JOIN THE SERVICE VIA ZOOM, PLEASE FOLLOW WITH THE LINK BELOW. Burial will take place at a later date in Deseronto.

Those wishing to make a donation in Rosalie’s memory may do so to Mothers with a heart for Ethiopia, Guelph Group, VON Transportation Services or to The Ontario Parks Association Foundation. Donation cards are available at the funeral home (519-821-5077) or donations and condolences may be made at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com.