Rosemary Osborne Elliott

Rosemary passed away peacefully after an exciting, adventuresome life. She is survived by sister Judith Elliott of London, England, cousin Kit Wright in Ireland, cousins Tim Johnson and Angela McWhirter in Vancouver, plus many other cousins around the world, and her goddaughter, Mary Caros, in Maple Ridge.

Rosemary was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland to Dr. John Elliott and Elizabeth Osborne (EO) Coid Elliott RN. After her parents’ divorce, Rosemary and her mother left the UK to join EO’s younger sister Magda Johnson and her family in Vancouver where they were also settling in.

Rosemary lived in that special time in Kerrisdale, now long-gone, with family close and holidays spent with her Johnson relatives including cousins Paul and Tim Johnson and their uncles Ray and Randy.

The small-city feel of Vancouver of that time was all around, from summers at Spanish Banks, vacations by train to the Rainbow Lodge, downtown via the Interurban, school at Crofton House with her friends for life Mary Lou Larkworthy and Lee Dworschak, and movies at the Kerrisdale Theatre. Rosemary graduated from Magee Highschool and then went on to complete a BSc in library science. Of course, with a UK background Rosemary’s grad-gift was a powder-blue Vauxhall Velox.

Her love of adventure and new places started in those years - back to the UK to see her always loving father, all her Coid cousins, and her beloved half-sister Judith. Rosemary worked in London after graduating in a medical testing lab and spent many exciting evenings at the theatre with Judith who got them in on her BBC press passes. With her developing library career, Rosemary moved back to the U.S., working in Palo Alto, Hartford, Baltimore, and going in and out of Pennsylvania where E.O. had settled with Harry Carrick.

With Harry’s passing and years coming on, Rosemary brought E.O. back to Vancouver. Family was still here - Uncle Val and Aunt Magda with Paul and Tim and their families were always up for memorable events and commemorations. Good friends Mary Lou, Mitzi Hamada, Joss Halverson, and Bob and Jeanne Koe joined Rosemary at the theatre and music. To round out her library career Rosemary joined the VPL system and loved her next years at Britannia.

On E.O.’s passing and her own retirement Rosemary relocated to White Rock, close to Paul and Tim, not far from Mary and still able to see Mary Lou. Rosemary wrapped up that exciting and adventuresome life at Pacifica Retirement home lovingly supported by caregivers Tushani, Helen, and Susan.

Mary and Tim are hosting a Celebration of Life event for Rosemary Osborne Elliott at Victory Memorial Park on Saturday, February 25 at 11:00 a.m. If a donation is in mind, please consider Covenant House Vancouver. Rosemary’s legacy supports Covenant House, as it supports troubled youth.