Rita Mary Spurr

Rita passed away in Halifax on October 5, 2016 at the age of 90. She was born in South Nelson, New Brunswick in 1926 in what is now part of the City of Miramichi. She grew up on St. Michael Street in the former Town of Chatham, New Brunswick in the shadow of the convent where she attended school and the basilica where she attended mass.

Her small town life in Chatham changed forever when, in 1950, she met her future husband, an RCAF airman named Bernie Spurr, who at the time was stationed at the air base at Chatham. Rita and Bernie were married in 1950 and Rita began her married life as an RCAF spouse in the personnel married quarters at RCAF Station Chatham. During the 1950’s and 1960’s life meant various moves with the RCAF and setting up households on bases across Canada, including Parent, Quebec, Sea Island (Vancouver), British Columbia, Rivers, Manitoba and, finally, Windsor Park in Halifax.

Life after the RCAF meant a move to the Spurr family farm near Bridgetown, Nova Scotia in 1982 where she and Bernie lived a long and fulfilling retirement until Bernie’s passing in 2013. Rita spent her last years in the comfort of the Melville Heights independent living facility in Halifax, where she was welcomed by staff and residents as a member of that community. She was proud of her Irish heritage and regularly prescribed a cup of strong tea and a piece of toast as the remedy for many of life’s ailments.

Rita was predeceased by Bernie, her husband of 63 years, and by one sister and four brothers. She is survived by her sister, Marie Lyons, Miramichi, New Brunswick, her son and only child, James (Valerie), Halifax, her granddaughter Kathryn (Chad), great-granddaughter Claire and a great-grandson en ventre sa mere, Calgary, and her granddaughter Alison (Kevin) and great-granddaughter Jane, Halifax, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

We are grateful to the team of medical professionals at Dalhousie Family Medicine (South Center Clinic) and the Nova Scotia Health Authority for their management of Rita’s palliative care, allowing her to have a comfortable and dignified passing from this life. We are also grateful to the care givers at Home Instead Senior Care and VON for the care they provided to Rita during her final days with us.

In keeping with Rita’s wishes, her remains have been cremated and there will be no visitation or service.

Arrangements under the direction of JA Snow Funeral Home, Halifax, NS.