Rose Raymonde Burns

It is with great sadness and immense pride in the two year battle she fought against cancer, with such openness, courage and humour, the family announces that Rose passed away peacefully at the Inverness Consolidated Hospital in her 76^th year.

Left behind with memories of a life well lived together during 59 years of marriage is her husband Fred and their children, Martin (Anne), Heather (Jamie) and Rob and their granddaughter Krystin and step-grandson Andrew.

Born in Tracadie/Sheila, New Brunswick, difficult life circumstances turned into a blessing for Rose, as she was embraced and loved by a foster family in her teen years.  This resulted in her now leaving to mourn siblings Rachelle, Marie-Mai, Roger, Rosanna (Delphus), Brenda (Richard), Lynda (Douglas), Gerry, Angella, Jack (Kim) and Jacynthe (Wayne).  Rose was predeceased by her parents Marguerite and Jean-Baptiste Robichaud, foster mother Ida Arsenault and siblings, Arthur, Denise and Verna.  Although not directly related, she leaves behind a family of many friends who looked to her as a second mom, sister and best friend.

Once her children were older, Rose started a ten-year career as a Home Care Support worker for the County of Inverness.  In this role she thrived in supporting seniors in being able to maintain their independence and remain in their own homes.  While they started off as clients, many soon became close friends that she cherished and cared for as family.

Rose loved playing games of any kind, whether they be card, dice or board games.  She had a very competitive streak, and was famous for saying “there is no such thing as family or friends in cards”.  At 3am you would often hear her request “just one more game”!  In recent years she always looked forward to the annual Boxing Day Monopoly game, and of course, the annual August long weekend washer toss tournament. This tournament was the highlight of her year.  She loved the “friendly” competition, but more important to her was getting to spend time with the friends that came from away for the weekend that loved her as dearly as she loved them.  Rose won MVP in the 2019 tournament and she proudly used her personalized MVP water tumbler throughout her illness.  Her “never give up” positive attitude and fierce competitive spirit shall live on in her kids.

Rose loved bingo!  Of course, she was thrilled when she won, but just as important to her was the socializing with all her Bingo Buddies over the years, including Myrna, Margaret and Dianne.  People knew not to call the Burns house between 7-8:30 on Friday evenings, as that time was reserved for radio bingo.  She took her radio bingo very seriously, and diligently kept record of who won each game every week.  Those friends lucky enough to play along with her always enjoyed when she would yell “Neil, shake your balls” at the radio.

This two-year journey has been one that Rose and the family could not have gotten through without the love and support of so many people.  Each and every kind gesture, phone call and card were such an important part in helping us all along the way.  The care and treatment Rose received from the doctors, nurses and staff at the Cape Breton Cancer Center was so amazingly personal, compassionate and professional, it surpassed any care one could receive in a larger center anywhere in the country.  Mere words cannot express the gratitude we feel for the Home Care Team (Jeanne and Marguerite) and the Palliative Care Team (Dr. Ritter, Lori-Ann, Lyndsey and Paulette) that provided the support and care which allowed Rose to remain at home for such an extended time.  The care Rose received from the nurses at the Inverness Hospital during her final weeks provided the family with the reassurance that she was in the best place for the care she required.

The overwhelming support from the community and the parishioners of St. Michael’s have made a very difficult time much more manageable.  A special thank you must also go out to great neighbors and friends Pat and Annie for all they have done, and continue to do to support the family, as well as to Kelly for being such a close friend and confidant to Rose for so many years.

Visitation at St. Michel’s Parish, Margaree will be on Friday, September 3^rd, from 10:00 to 10:45am with funeral Mass at 11:00 am.  A family graveside service will follow the funeral mass.

COVID protocols require that masks be worn in the church. Family and friends wishing to attend the service are requested to notify the family via e-mail: [email protected], or phone (902) 235-2061.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in  Rose’s memory to Palliative Care Services, Inverness Consolidated Hospital, Inverness, N.S.

“We All Have to Go Sometime”  – Rose Burns

(April 24^th, 1945 – August 26^th, 2021)