Rita E Gillis

Sydney

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our mother, Rita Elaine (Campbell) Gillis on March 15, at North Sydney General Hospital after a short illness. Rita was a long time resident of Trinity Avenue, Sydney and was most recently resident at My Cape Breton Home for Seniors in North Sydney.

Rita was born and raised in Balls Creek, daughter of the late Dan and Mary (Ronayne) Campbell. Rita attended local schools and graduated from Holy Angels convent before attending Normal School in Truro, the forerunner of the Nova Scotia Teacher's College.

After finsihing Normal School Rita taught for six years in various rural schools throughout Cape Breton Island, one of her favorites being Port Hood Island. She then left for Halifax where she taught for ten years eventually becoming principal of Ardmore School.

She met her husband, Anthony (Tony) Gillis, married in 1957 and returned to Sydney to raise her three sons, Kevin - Toronto, Edward (Patti Bordeleau) - Ottawa, and Adrian - Toronto. She continued substitute teaching while the boys were young and returned to full time teaching in the fall of 1968. Her last fourteen teaching years were spent at St. Joseph School where she was the Primary Teacher for thirteen of those fourteen years.

Rita was very active in St Joseph Church. She was president of the CWL for a number of terms, was on parish council, and served as a eucharistic minister for many years. Within the wider community she was involved with the City Homemakers, serving on their board as well.

Mom had many interests in life with a few great passions among them. From a very early age, nothing gave her greater pleasure than getting a group together and getting behind the wheel for a Sunday drive or going further afield. In her younger days it was "the girls" who benefited from this. Rita would take long summer trips always by car to Ontario and Quebec as well as through the States. In the middle years it was the family who enjoyed her driving passion and later in life it was "the ladies" who took various road trips to Halifax, PEI and around Cape Breton. On more than one occasion she would pack the car and drive to Toronto to visit family members.

Her raspberry patch also gave her huge pleasure. From sixteen plants introduced to Trinity Avenue in the early 70s they eventually took over half the backyard and were lovingly tended. Each berry was eagerly anticipated and the harvests were all measured and recorded. Many family members, friends and neighbours enjoyed the fruits of her labours as she generously shared those berries in pies, jams, and fresh. She was also a great baker and was known for her excellent pies which she could whip up at a moment's notice.

Rita was loved by all who knew her for her sharp wit, dry sense of humour and the mischievous twinkle in her eye. In retirement she greatly enjoyed visits from family and friends and especially enjoyed the summer visits from her boys. She spent many happy hours in her sun porch watching the comings and goings of Trinity Avenue and regularly entertained her visitors there. Though living until 90 her good humour and great spirit were not diminished.

She was predeceased by her husband Tony, her parents and one brother Cyril.

She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by her sons as well as various nieces and nephews and her sister-in-law and best friend Mary (Gillis) Crowell of Richmond Hill, Ontario.

We would like to thank the staff of Five East in the North Sydney General Hospital and Dr. Joan Salah. The staff of My Cape Breton Home for Seniors North Sydney were very good to mom during her fifteen month stay there and we thank them enormously as well.

Visitation for Mrs. Gillis will take place on Monday, March 18 at T.W.Curry Parkview Chapel from 2-4 & 7-9 pm. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10 am at st. Joseph’s Church with Rev. Conrad Edwards officiating. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery, Sydney Forks. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be sent to www.twcurry.com