Rosemary Slinger

January 8, 1946 – May 28, 2021

To know Bobbi is to love her. Warm and welcoming to all. A beautiful heart with endless love to share. An extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, auntie, sister and friend. A protector of others who always put the needs of those she loved ahead of her own. Strong and brave with a beautiful smile that would light up a room. Thoughtful and kind, she would lead by example how to be a good person. She was funny and witty and clever, always making her friends laugh.

When Bobbi was diagnosed with ALS in January 2019 it was a devastating diagnosis for her and her family. Her only focus was on wanting to survive as long as possible to spend as much time as she could with her family that she adored. ALS is a cruel disease which robbed her of life far too early. She was brave until the end and lost her courageous battle on May 28, 2021. We feel her now in our thoughts and dreams and all around us in the legacy that she left.

Rosemary Slinger was born on January 8, 1946 in a small village of East Yorkshire, England called North Cave. She was the middle of three children, her older sister Susan and younger brother Neil. Her parents William (Bunny) and Eileen Cross were modest and hard working. Bunny almost immediately gave Rosemary the nickname Bobbi which stuck with her for her entire life.

In 1968, Bobbi was teaching London when she met her soulmate Ron at a party in Earl’s Court. Ron was “bumming” his way around Europe at the time but was instantly taken by Bobbi. He gave her the phone number of a phone booth in his hostel and 2 dates and times to call and reach him. When Bobbi didn’t call the first time, Ron was very nervous, but on the second time the phone rang and from there began their beautiful love story.

In December of that same year, they travelled to North Cave to meet Bobbi’s family and Ron asked Bunny for his daughter’s hand in marriage. For Bobbi this meant moving to a new country and following her heart.

On July 24, 1971 Ron and Bobbi were married at West Van United Church. Bobbi continued her teaching career from 1969-1980 at Ridgeview Elementary and Cedardale Elementary in West Vancouver. She always loved children and adored teaching. On February 25, 1981 Ron and Bobbi welcomed their own daughter Molly into the world. After Molly was born, Bobbi chose not to return to teaching in order to stay home with Molly. The bond they shared was very special.

When Molly met her future husband Justin in 2000, Bobbi welcomed him into the family with open arms. Ron and Bobbi enjoyed many adventures visiting Molly and Justin in different parts of the world while Justin was playing professional soccer.

Bobbi’s love for her family was clear. She wanted everyone to be together and she and Ron always opened their home to make that happen. Very close with the Slinger family as well as Bobbi’s family back home in England; Ron and Bobbi would often travel back to England to reconnect with loved ones overseas.

In 2011, Bobbi became a grandmother when Molly and Justin welcomed their first child, William. For Bobbi, this was everything. She spent the next 8 years doting on her three beautiful grandchildren William, Ella and Beau. She was a constant and present force in their lives. Bobbi’s heart was full.

We are eternally grateful to Bobbi’s Angels, her caregivers Jham, Ara, Joy and Erika, for loving Bobbi and giving her the best care possible these past 2 years.

Forever loved and forever missed by her husband Ron, daughter Molly (Justin), grandchildren William, Ella and Beau; sister Susan (Maurice D.2020) Labistour, brother Neil (Janet) Cross, brother-in-law Ted (Phyllis) Slinger, sister-in-law Valerie Robertson (D. 2020) Bill Steele; and many treasured nieces and nephews. Also by her best and most faithful friend of 50 years Jill Muchula. Predeceased by her parents William “Bunny” (D.1991) and Eileen (D.2011) Cross.

ALS is a devastating disease that has touched too many people already. In honour of Bobbi please consider donating to ALS Action Canada in the hopes of finding a cure https://alsactioncanada.org/donate/

We will be having a small celebration of life for the family on June 24, 2021. There will be an opportunity to view the memorial in the days that follow. We thank you all for your love and support during these difficult times.