Rosemary passed away peacefully at the Beacon Hill Villa long care home, Victoria, BC, on the evening of February 28, 2025. Born in Milford-on-Sea, in England on November 17, 1929. Rosemary spent her childhood in southern England moving with her mother, Eleanora to stay with friends in Wales for safety reasons during the Blitz of the second World War. Her father Herbert John (Jack) served in the Royal Air Force in Africa as a Flying Sergeant and later Squadron Leader during this time.
At age 18, in 1947 Rosemary sailed from Southampton with her mother by ship to Southern African where they joined Jack and settled in the City of Bulawayo, in the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia, (now Zimbabwe). After training as a bookkeeper, she married her first husband Michael Steward in 1951 at the Church of Ascension chapel.
Michael and Rosemary, both keen African wildlife enthusiasts, spent much of their leisure time camping in the bush with their two young children. As their children grew older, Rosemary and Michael became keen on boating and water-skiing at a local dam near Bulawayo.
After 43 years of marriage, Michael passed away in 1994. Following the sale of the family home, Rosemary moved with her two dogs to a newly built cottage on her daughter, Lynette’s property in Bulawayo. During this period, Rosemary made a few trips to visit her son and his family in Ontario Canada. On one of these visits to Ontario she met Dennis Houghton.
In 2000, Rosemary immigrated to Ontario Canada. Shortly thereafter she married Dennis Houghton. Dennis and Rosemary spent several years together enjoying their golden years travelling to foreign destinations. Dennis passed away in 2005. In 2017 Rosemary moved to Victoria, BC with her son Richard and daughter-in-law.
Known for her beauty, spunk and creativity, Rosemary enjoyed knitting, sewing, pottery and in her later years, painting. She worked throughout her life as a bookkeeper both professionally and for the nonprofit groups she was involved in, such as The Rhodesian Wildlife Society, the Ncema Dam Boating Club, the I.O.D.E, and St. Paul’s/St John’s Anglican church, Haileybury Ontario.
Rosemary is predeceased by her parents, Herbert John and Eleanora (nee Sherriff) Coppin, husbands Michael Steward and Dennis Houghton, and survived by her daughter Lynette (Denzil), her son Richard (Maureen), grandchildren Candice, Tyrin (Georgie), Matt (Monica), Tristan, David (Jenny), and her greatgrandchildren, Ewan, Mitchell, Elijah, Oliver, June, Leah and Quentin.
A Celebration of Life service will be conducted by Reverend Wendy Read at 2:30 pm (Pacific Time), in St. John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Road, BC, on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Kate Scott
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CHRISTINE TORRISON SORRY FOR THE PASSING OF ROSEMARY. OUR CONDOLENCES ARE FOR ROSEMARY’S FAMILY, WE ARE IN HAILEYBURY. WE GO TO ST. PAUL @ ST JOHN’S ANGLICAN CHURCH , WE KNOW REV, VAL PATTERSON. GOD IS WITH ROSEMARY NOW, AND FOREVER, CHERISH HER MEMORIES FOREVER ,FROM CHRISTINE TORRISON – JOHN 3:16.
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Paulina Oslund I would like to send my condolences to all the family, Rosemary was such a sweet lady and she loved her lord and we will see her someday in heaven. Love from Paula and family. Paula
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Ellen and Jim Goodyear We are saddened to hear of Rosemary’s passing. She was such a lovely lady, I know it is hard to lose your loved one, but she is now in a very special and well derserved place with our Lord. Our condolences to Richard, Maureen and family, and Lynette, Denzil and family. Oudr thoughts and prayers are with you all. What a beautiful picture of Rosemary, she had such a beautiful smile.
Your friends Ellen and Jim Goodyear & family.
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Nancy Mortimer Dear Maureen, Richard and all Rosemary’s loved ones,
It is with a heavy heart but fond remembrances of time spent with Rosemary that I write to you all. Rosemary was a dear sweet lady, we spent a lot of time together at church and church functions and she always had a smile and a kind word no mater what. It grieves me to hear that she has died. I know she is home with Jesus and all her loved ones who predeceased her and has no more pain and that brings comfort for me and I pray it does for you also.
Always remembered.Nancy Mortimer and family
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Dr. Cliff & Louise Geddes To all of Rosemary’s family, please accept our most sincere condolences. Rosemary was one of the kindest and most gentle people we had the privilege of knowing while in Haileybury. We will remember her in our hearts. Sincerely, Dr. Cliff and Louise Geddes
Dear Richard, Maureen and family, I and the St. Paul and St. John’s congregation were saddened to hear of Rosemary’s passing. She was always a delightful person to be around – she always looked lovely and acted the same way. She always had a kind word for people and had such a delightfully impish sense of humour! I am sure you all will miss her very much. There is a poem called, “The Rose Still Grows Beyond the Wall” which is about a rose that grows by a wall “shedding it’s sweetness day and night” until one day it grows through the crevice in the wall “and unfolded itself on the other side.” The last 2 stanza’s of the poem are as follows: “Shall claim of death cause us to grieve, and make our courage faint or fail? Nay! Let us faith and hope receive: the rose still grows beyond the wall. Scattering fragrance far and wide, just as it did in the days of yore, just as it did on the other side, just as it will forevermore.” I have no doubt but that is Rosemary! Grace and peace be with you all.