Rosemary (Fleming) Reilly

Rosemary Jocelyn Reilly had only a few months to go to reach her goal of living to 100 but it wasn’t meant to be. She passed away peacefully at home on June 6, 2021 with loved ones by her side. She was well known for her zest for life and her love for her family and friends and will be missed by all.

Rosemary was born in 1922 in Nelson, BC, the first daughter and third child of eight born to prominent pioneer residents, Ross and Minnie Fleming.

She had a happy childhood and Nelson had always been home to her in her heart. As a girl, she was an excellent swimmer and held a West Kootenay title in tennis. She loved to play softball with the neighbourhood boys and along with the rest of her siblings, was taught to play two musical instruments by her mother. The children also all performed in music recitals and competed in music festivals. Rosemary was proud of her prowess in spelling bees as a child.

Rosemary’s adventurous spirit took her far from home to Montréal where she fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a Registered Nurse. Always an independent and self-sufficient woman, she financed her education by working as a telephone switchboard operator in Nelson. Her sister also trained at the old Royal Vic where they both had long nursing careers. Rosemary was the Night Nursing Supervisor for many years before she retired after a 36 years career.

In the early 1950s, through friends, she met John Reilly who she immediately knew was the one for her and they took their time getting to know one another well… engaged for 30 years before they finally married!

Rosemary and her husband spent many happy times at their lake cottages in the Laurentians; she loved to sail with her brother-in-law and she was an avid skiier and windsurfer. She enjoyed socializing and loved good food, including visits to Lesters Deli. After retirement, Rosemary kept a busy schedule, enjoying the CLSC day programs at St Margaret Centre and movies at the Yellow Door where she always got an extra helping of popcorn. She enjoyed numerous daylong and overnight excursions with the Montréal West Travel Club and participated in their Social Club events as well. She took pride in her garden, her cats, and loved her home. In her later years, she took up Solitaire and knitting, playing games on her ipad and was always interested in the activities of her extended family who meant the world to her. She was a generous donor to many charities.

Rosemary was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her sister, six brothers, one niece and a great niece. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, distant cousins and friends.

The family sincerely thanks Doctor Milroy, Dr Piche, the CLSC nurses, Alfonso and the caregivers who helped Rosemary stay at home in her later years. A special thank you goes to Lawson who was her close and supportive friend and neighbour for decades.

A celebration of life will be held at Collins Clarke MacGallivray White Funeral Home located at 5610 Sherbrooke street West in Montreal on July 10th at 1:00.

In lieu of flowers a donation in her memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or to the Parkinson Society British Columbia