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Rose Marie Raftus
May 12, 1937 – January 8, 2025
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Rose Marie Raftus
It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of our beloved mother Rose Marie Raftus of Dartmouth. Rose passed on January 8, 2025 in her 87th year with her loved ones present. Rose was born in Yarmouth on May 12, 1937, daughter of the late John Charles and Martha Elizabeth Hall (Allen). Rose had five siblings being sisters Gail, Meryl, Ellen and brothers Wayne and Allen. Rose was married to husband David for 64 years until his passing on March 3, 2024.
Rose grew up in Yarmouth and spent her summers with family at their beloved cottage in Carleton where her love for nature and country living began. Rose’s early years were active in sports including swimming, softball and basketball. At this time Rose began her lifelong interest in volunteer work which evolved into being an advocate for the poor and helping women in need. Rose then relocated to Dartmouth as a student in the nursing program at Nova Scotia Hospital, shortly thereafter meeting her future husband David.
We are proud to say our mother Rose lived a full, accomplished life driven by her positive spirit and passion to learn. She had a heart larger than life with compassion for all. Rose was a loving, caring and tireless mother meeting the needs of all eight of her children. She was also a devoted, loyal spouse, proud of her marriage to David with steadfast love and care no matter the circumstance. While not always easy, Mom’s devotion to her Catholic faith provided strength to overcome challenges, always looking forward one day at a time. All her children were raised stressing the importance of Catholic faith in life through Saint Paul’s Parish religious calendar. Family was everything to Mom. She always had time and energy for everyone, sleep could wait. Family celebrations for birthdays, graduations, holidays were all recognized with a special meal gathering at the Fairbanks Street family home. Rose was very proud of her children’s accomplishments, recognizing everyone had their own path in life. Her loving way spread to spouses, extended family, neighbours, her lifelong friends Avis and Mary Ellen, Nantucket House, and countless others she touched along the way. When with Rose, she gave you undivided attention, interest and the special feeling of being loved each and every time.
Rose showed a zest for life, always ready for pleasures including family cottage vacations to Murray Corner, travels back for visits with sisters and brother in Carleton and the ultimate find – Keji Park outdoor trails and campfires with her beloved Wigwam Trailer. Mom’s love for Keji began in 1985 and lasted for decades with many family stays at the trailer, friendships with Wayne and Marilyn and in later years car rides though the park. Mom loved to vacation with her kids’ families including travels to the Caribbean, Florida, New England, Ottawa, Cape Breton and PEI – many special memories. Mom also enjoyed her back of house patio with a magnificent view of the Halifax Harbour, loving the sun and endless off the water breeze!
Following all her children in school age years, Rose began an academic journey lasting 20 years all while continuing work, volunteer efforts and tending to family needs. While having nursing assistant training, her passion to learn more about her Catholic faith led to 1979-80 Clinical Pastoral Education. Following this she graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction Degree at the MSVU. Then in 1985 Rose achieved a diploma in Gerontology at MSVU, followed by two years attending the Rehabilitation Program at the Abbey Lane. Next up in 1988 Rose secured a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from Dalhousie. This was followed in 1992 with a Masters of Social Work Degree, also from Dalhousie. Her final learning journey was interest in NLP – Neuro Linguistic Programming – earning her Practitioner Designation in 1997 followed by Masters Practitioner NLP in 1998 at University of California Santa Cruz. Mom never regarded herself as a high academic performer. After each final exam she would share “think I did not do so well” then score an A for the course, over and over again.
While attending academics, Rose’s work years also included real time learning. Her career began in her late teens as a bank teller with Royal Bank in Yarmouth, then Nursing Assistant work at IWK followed by her child rearing years in the 1970s. In the early 1980s Rose served as Religious Education Director at Saint Paul’s Parish. The early 1990s were spent as Family Support Coordinator at Spencer House, followed by the Association of Community Living. For the next decade through to 2002, Rose served as Community Relations Social Worker at Metro Housing Authority, then was with Health Services South Shore. Simultaneously Rose began her own private practice in 1998 as a Master NLP Practitioner with NLP Counselling Services. She served many clients providing self-help healing through 2013, retiring at age 76.
During these busy family, work and academic years, Rose continued her high devotion to her Catholic faith serving Saint Paul’s Parish in many volunteer capacities over 50 years. Her devotion to the poor and women in need included volunteer work at Phoenix House, Dalhousie Legal Aid, Collins and Bryony House, NS Family of Child Welfare and Faith & Sharing. Rose was also a lifelong financial supporter to her faith and overseas foster care children. Rose enjoyed politics, lived for CNN, and was a longtime NDP Federal and Provincial supporter and contributor.
Rose was Mom to eight children David (Karen), Peter, Shelley (Steve), Michael (Cyrilla), Mark (Shelley), Andrew (Cynthia), Chris and Scott (Tammy). All will miss Mom tremendously and recognize her love and cherished memories for all. Rose also had sixteen grandchildren – Angie, Kaitlyn, Jordan, Dylan, Jenna, Evan, Michaela, Nicole, Rebecca, Logan, Tristan, Kristen, Lacey, Emily, Brandon and Liberty as well as four great-grandchildren Reese, Rylee, Sylvie and Hayes.
Rose bravely battled symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in her final years. Special thanks to Dr AJ (Jayabarathan) for her decades of care, Northwood VON & Homecare support, Private Homecare services by Paulette Belge, Physio Care by Kate and Shoppers Drug Mart Wyse Road Pharmacy Team which all combined along with her children to provide care to Rose at her Fairbanks Street home.
Mom would like you to remember her by saying a kind word to someone every day.
Wake to be held Sunday, January 12, 2025 from 1-3pm & 7-9pm at Dartmouth Funeral Home, 29 Queen Street, Dartmouth. Funeral service Monday, January 13, 2025 1pm at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, 10 Maple Street, Dartmouth. Live stream link found on Dartmouth Funeral Home website. Reception for all immediately after service in the Church hall with private family burial service to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lower Sackville.
SERVICES
Wake
Sunday, January 12, 2025
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Dartmouth Funeral Home
29 Queen Street
Dartmouth,
Wake
Sunday, January 12, 2025
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Dartmouth Funeral Home
29 Queen Street
Dartmouth,
Funeral Mass
Monday, January 13, 2025
1:00 PM
Saint Peter’s Catholic Church
10 Maple Street
Dartmouth,
May 12 1937 January 8 2025
Death notice for the town of: Dartmouth, Province: Nova Scotia
death notice Rose Marie Raftus May 12 1937 January 8 2025
obituaries notice Rose Marie Raftus May 12 1937 January 8 2025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Rose Marie Raftus May 12 1937 January 8 2025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
