Obituary of Bridget Louise Rossiter

 

 

Bridget Louise Rossiter (nee Williams) October 13, 1940 - June 11, 2025

Passed away after a brief illness surrounded by her devoted children. With broken hearts she leaves behind her four children, Lynn (Darryl), Lori (Mike), Michael (Lauren), and Lucy (Andrew); her grandchildren Caitlin, Amelia (Will), Daniel, Keagan (Lindsay), Emma, Sophie, Stella, Patrick and Hugh; her great granddaughters, Isabella, Isla, Audrey, Olivia, and Eleanor; her loving sister, Marie Kieley; and her many special nieces and nephews. Also mourning her loss are Helen, Carolyn, Dan C.and Kelly, and so many people who will miss mom’s friendship.

Bridget is predeceased by her parents, Stella and James Williams; her twin sister Margaret Haaf; her brothers, Jerry, Pat, and Walter; sisters in law Carol Ann, Liz and Marg; brother in law, Francis; our father, Tom; our grandparents Ann and Nicholas Rossiter, Uncle Tom, Aunt Lucy and cousin Donna.

Bridget was born in Buchans, NL, and was raised on a farm in Kilbride. She attended high school at St. Augustine’s, Littledale. After graduating high school, she entered the Sisters of Mercy covenant for a year. Her post secondary education included her teacher’s training at Memorial University, Student Assistant training at Presentation School, and Group Home counselling at Mercy Residence. As a young mother, she was a teacher at various schools in St. John’s and on the Burin Peninsula. In her later years, she worked as a group home counsellor for teenage girls, a teaching assistant for children with special needs, and a smoking cessation coordinator with the Newfoundland Lung Association. She also spent time volunteering for various organizations in St.John’s, such as the Palliative Care Program and Stella’s Circle. Bridget was an advocate for women’s issues and mentored many young women both professionally and personally.

Throughout her life, mom’s traits of kindness, joy, enthusiasm, and free spiritedness drew her to people, and they to her. She met friends wherever she went. There was nothing better than a cuppa tea in a china cup at Bridget’s. In her later years mom found a new home in Fredericton, and made dear friends at York Manor who will miss her dearly. Mom was an avid sports fan; hockey, curling, tennis, golf and especially her Blue Jays. She was also an artist. Her rocks, mailboxes and paintings were shared with friends and family near and far. Mom adored her gardens, flowers, and animals and especially her loving dog Peggy. But above all that was her love for her family. She cherished every visit, Facetime, phone call, card and picture of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  They brought her endless joy.

The family would like to thank the staff of 4W and 3E at the Dr. Everett Chalmer’s Hospital in Fredericton for their incredible care of mom, especially Dr. Eric Rideout and nurses Summer and Rassel. A special thank-you to Jennifer, mom’s caregiver whom she loved dearly. A celebration of life will be held in St. John’s in mid August. Details to follow. Donations in mom’s memory can be made to Stella’s Circle in St. John’s.

Our own life has to be our message ~ Thich Nhat Hanh