Peacefully, on December 10th, 2023, our most beautiful mom, grandma, great-grandma, and friend, Rose McRae, died at the age of 86 years. Rose was predeceased by her true love and partner of 58 Years, Gordon McRae (2018). Rose leaves behind her daughters, Sheila and Janice, son-in-law Arthur, grandchildren, Kristofer, Nicholas & partner Nicole, Sarah & partner Jordan, Alexander & partner Jenna, Toby, Abigail, and Isabelle, and her two adorable great-grandchildren, Mads and Viggo. Rose always held a special place in her heart for her son-in-law, Martin Bergmann, who tragically died in 2011.

 

Rose was born in 1937 in Denfield, Ontario, and had a deep and loving connection to her family in London until her final day. Rose lost her very special big sister Velma (Jack 2020) only 10 days before her own passing. Their 7:15 telephone chats occurred nightly almost until the end. She also shared a special bond with her sister Mary (2008; Vic 1998). Rose recounted many tales of antics with her sisters, especially during summers on their grandparents’ farm. As a young woman, Rose was a teacher, and took tremendous pride and joy working with children with disabilities. Rose and Gord were married in 1960 and Rose jumped into her new married life with adventures of spending summers at Heming Lake, Manitoba at a Department of Fisheries and Oceans field camp. It was there she and Gord forged a bond with the Lawler family, and Rose took joy in the visits and phone calls from the Lawlers to reminisce and share many laughs about the times up north.

 

Life took a dramatic turn with Rose’s stroke (misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis) in 1967. Despite her physical challenges, Rose used patience and diligence to participate completely in life.  Rose was a deeply and unfailingly positive person, she was thankful every day for everyone and everything.  Rose was an amazing parent, our childhood filled with magical games like “Mother-May-I”, creative stories, laughter, chaos (setting the fire alarm off making fudge or deep-frying donuts), and so much love. Despite many barriers, Rose created a world for our family that was so nurturing and packed with fun.  And she cherished her role as grandma and great grandma, delighting in time spent in the early years taking on the role of “Mrs. McGillicuddy” in make-believe, carving pumpkins, dying Easter eggs, and making gingerbread houses. In later years, she cherished the time hearing about their lives, teasing them, and sharing laughter at family dinners.

 

Rose had a gift for creating meaningful relationships with many, and despite being housebound for much of her adult life, her kitchen table seemed to always have a visitor. She loved to share stories and was quick to laugh, but one of her greatest gifts was as an incredible and thoughtful listener. She remained close through in-person and phone visits with many friends - Pat and John, Les, and the Condo ladies. She also treasured her time with Jan and Sheila’s friends who became like family – Jamie, John and family, Tanis and Bev and “the moms”, Michelle and Lianne, and many others. Rose had many talents and interests. She loved to bake becoming famous for the brownies she made for Sheila’s annual camping trip. She also loved doing crafts and knitting. She would painstakingly hand-make Christmas gifts for her friends and family every year, taking months in the process, to sew 15 aprons, or knit mittens or slippers for all. She loved animals and enjoyed hearing stories of the escapades of our family pets or the visiting deer in the yard. She loved to try new things and loved to learn, figuring out email, Facetime, and Facebook in her later years, and asking insightful questions about events in the world. She was an accomplished pianist in her youth, and was so pleased to take up playing again this year using an iPad app. She often joked about “getting ready for the Olympics” while attending swimming class in her 70’s and attending exercise classes in her 80’s.

 

Rose was an inspiration, a support, a role model, and a remarkable example of the power of kindness. There is a hole for all of us that will simply be impossible to fill, but we will move forward with gratitude as she guided us to do.

 

Our family would like to give a special thank you to those that provided care and kindness to our mom in times of challenge and need, Dr. Brian Sharkey for decades of exemplary care, Andy Jolicoeur for spending time filled with friendship, compassion, and fun, and the staff of the Simkin Centre for making our mom’s last year one where she felt safe and cared for. She said many times how “she was in the right place”, and we are so grateful for that.

 

A service to honour Rose will be held in the Assiniboine Park Pavilion Atrium, 55 Pavilion Crescent at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 14, 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations to your charity of choice would be appreciated.

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Rose's family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.