Obituaries

Born June 16, 1928, Mom passed away July 2020. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Aline (Chase) Rafuse. Rhoda was predeceased by her husband Eric.

During Mom's life she was very active in her church community - Women's missionary groups, singing in the church choir and other committees with her fellow Jolly Seniors. She also worked as a leader with Explorers, CGIT groups at West End Baptist Church. Later she served on the Maritime CGIT Council and enjoyed organizing and participating in the yearly summer camps throughout the Maritimes. Mom loved to sing and play the piano at home. Mom was active with the Women's PC Association (she enjoyed organizing the meals for the monthly meetings at different venues).

Rhoda worked at the YMCA as an executive secretary for over 25 years. She loved meeting people from all walks of life. She was active in the YMCA's National Administrative Assistants Association and the National Secretary Association.

Rhoda is survived by her daughter Beverley Ann (Michael Larochelle) and her son Christopher (Cheryl). Her greatest joys in life were her grandchildren. Matthew (Victoria Hirtle ), Andrew (Laura), Jennifer (Philip Marcotte), Katherine (Darryn Weir), Samantha (Evan Lowry ), Emily (Dylan Roberts), Alexandra, and Daniel (Haley-Shaffer-Forgeron).

In later years she became a great grandmother and encouraged them all to call her "Rhoda". As she explained it to us (Cheryl is Nanny, and to hear someone call my name is a blessing) as she didn't hear her name called very often these days. Lucus, Brady, Cameryn, Avery, Zoey, Paisley, Kylie, Lily, Ava, Charlotte, Dax and Robert. She is the beloved Aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband she was predeceased by her brothers Roland, Vincent, Alan and Peter and her sisters Kathleen and Nellie.

We would like to thank Dr. Pat Beresford (also a close friend of Moms for over 40 years) and Moms best friend Nancy Tough for all their care, support and friendship over the years.

We would like to thank Closing the Gap, VON and Palliative Care. With your care and support we were able to keep mom home for the last seven months surrounded by her loved ones until the end.

A celebration of life service ( Covid-19 compliant) will be held on September 19, 2020 at 10:00am at Bayer's Road Baptist Church, Halifax. Interment will be later in the day at 3:00pm Bayview Cemetery, Chester, N.S. with Rev. Greg Drummond officiating