Rosaleen Grant, 46, of Bear Pass, Ont., passed away Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances with her family by her side.
She was born Feb. 4, 1965 in Fort Frances, Ont. to Neal and Ita Grant. She grew up on the family farm in Barwick, Ont., later moving to Emo, Ont.
Rose enjoyed her work as a medical lab technologist at Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc., where she made many great friends.
In 2009, her failing health forced her to retire, yet she continued to enjoy the friendships and support of her work family.
Rose went to Donald Young School and St Mary’s School, graduating as an honour student from Fort Frances High School before going on to earn her lab technologist credentials at the Thunder Bay School of Medical Laboratory Technologists.
Rose enjoyed travelling with her sisters and Scott, exploring British Columbia, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean islands. She was an active and adventuresome traveller, snorkeling, learning to scuba dive, flying over Angel Falls, sky diving in Bemidji, and skiing several seasons at Whistler and Giant’s Ridge.
She met her spouse, Scott, on one of those trips to Giant’s Ridge.
Rose was an avid outdoors enthusiast with Scott, chaperoning several FFHS Environmental Science camping trips, as well as canoeing and tenting over a variety of routes in the Fort Frances area. She enjoyed fishing, both winter and summer, and exploring this watershed as far as Crane Lake in her boat.
She loved to catch the rays of sun and some walleye for dinner on Red Gut with a short visit to her friends around the lake. She also loved to cook for friends and family trying out new foods and techniques.
She was an avid reader, and a book or her Kindle was never far from her.
She opened her home to many, and shared her enjoyment of music and support of the arts. The company of friends from the Halkirk fire hall, whatever the project, brought her joy.
Her intelligent wit, ready smile, and steady and calm demeanor was a soothing influence to all around her. Rose loved life and never gave up hope, planning for the next trip and a new fishing season with a twinkle in her eyes and a warm smile on her lips.
Rose’s generosity, gentle warmth, and kindness of spirit will be missed by her family and friends. We are better for having known her.
Rose leaves behind her spouse of 24 years, Scott Doherty; father, Neal Grant; sisters, Nuala Grant (Damian and Adrianne), Marie Grant, and Bernadette and husband, Denis Gratton (Christian and Jeremy); brothers, Gerald and wife, Leslie (Liam), Brendan and wife, Frances (Casey and Ian), and Desmond and wife, Eleanor (Tara and Matthew); Scott’s parents, May and Malcolm Doherty; and Scott’s sister, Virginia Fenzl (Sean, Ian, and Karen).
She was predeceased by her mother, Ita Grant, on May 12, 1996.
A celebration of Rose’s life was held Monday, March 21, 2011 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances, with Fr. Francis Pudicherry officiating.
Cremation has taken place, and interment in the Emo Cemetery will be held in the spring.
The honourary pallbearers will be all of Rose’s family and friends who touched her life in so many different ways. You all meant so much to her.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. or the Halkirk Fire Protection Team c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
There are people
in this world who
light up the lives
of those around them.
Their inner spirit
is so strong that
it radiates to
everyone they touch.
You can’t help but
smile because they
bring you so much joy.
Our Rose is one of them.
There is a comfort in the strength of love;
‘Twill make a thing endurable which else
Would overset the brain or break the heart.
