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Obituary for Rita Marie Rose (Boland)
Late 2018, early 2019 brought a remarkable change to our lives. It was then that we discovered that my mother, Rita, had been keeping a well-guarded secret. Her memory was failing, and being the strong, independent, proud woman she was, she had found ways to hide it from all of us. By the time her memory loss was discovered, it had become a rapid spreading thief, taking pieces of her mind far too quickly. Alzheimers robbed us of so much, it does that to families, and ours was no different. Watching her decline over the last few years has been extremely difficult and we thank the staff at Granite Landing and then Stirling Heights LTC for their loving care of mom, and myself (Bonnie) as we faced this journey. Mom began her journey to heaven on April 25, 2025 at the age of 88.
Mom was predeceased by her parents, Deborah (Tremblett) and David Boland, her sisters Theresa Curwin (Bernie), Mary Ryan, Kathleen Bartlett and Joan Boland, her brothers David Boland (Chrissy) and Bill Boland. She is reunited now with her husband Ewart (Nov. 17, 2009), and her baby boy who died at birth.
Born on Bell Island NL on Remembrance Day 1936, the third oldest in a large family, her life was not for the faint hearted. She learned to work hard and fight for what she wanted or needed. In 1958, she married her long-time love, Ewart. I came along a year later. In the early 60’s we moved to Galt and mom and dad began to build a life for us. Mom was an avid reader, learner and teacher. She went back to school part time while working full time and raising me. She was always taking courses and learning something new. She was so very proud of her years as a teacher with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. Students she taught would often tell her years later that she was the most memorable teacher they’d had. She ruled with a stiff hand and did not accept excuses. She showed respect to, and earned respect from, each and every one of them. When she wasn’t teaching or taking a course, mom’s hobbies included sewing (everything from clothes to curtains to recovering furniture), reading, doing crosswords, shopping, gardening and keeping her house as clean as earthly possible. She was a master of it all, but sincerely hated the kitchen and all things cooking related.
Gifted with the voice of an angel, mom worked on the Air Force Base in Goose Bay as a young adult and sang on the radio with Lloyd Harris and the Tennessee Drifters while she was there. During her years as a teacher, she led school choirs, organised school concerts and shared her voice with students of all ages. Family parties always included a version of “Willy Claus” and many other special songs from her era. Her voice will now bless the heavens with those who have gone before her.
Mom loved her grandchildren, Mark Quinton (Lina) and Megan Hellyer (Mike) and she welcomed Kyle Blackmore (Alyssa) to the family when Brian and I married. Her great grandchildren made her smile and I know that had she been able, she would have enjoyed watching them grow into adulthood. We will keep memories of her alive so that Dia (Quinton), Ryan and Noah (Hellyer), Charlotte and Amelia (Blackmore) and Maarten, Erin and Erik (Van Kooy) will know her in spirit.
Left to celebrate her life and miss her dearly, are her sisters Elaine Clarke, Marion Normore, Francis Sweeney, Mona Vreeland (Fred O’Quinn), sister-in-law Chrissy Boland and brother John Boland (Coleen) as well as their children and grandchildren.
I think I will miss her most of all, she was my best friend and my staunchest supporter, but as people know, Alzheimers is called the long good-bye for a reason, and to be truthful, I have missed her for a long time now. Together with my husband Brian Blackmore, our children and grandchildren, we will find ways to honour her memory and keep her close in our hearts.
Memorial Mass to take place at St. Ambrose Church, 210 South Street, Cambridge on Thursday May 1, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
We ask that if you choose, please make a donation to Sick Kids hospital, Ronald McDonald House, or a charity of your choice in mom’s name.
Friday April 25th 2025
Death notice for the town of: Cambridge, Province: Ontario
death notice Rita Marie Rose Boland Friday April 25th 2025
obituaries notice Rita Marie Rose Boland Friday April 25th 2025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Rita Marie Rose Boland Friday April 25th 2025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
