Obituary of Rosemarie Colette Burgess

ROSEMARIE COLETTE BURGESS (née SALMOND) Rosemarie passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at the age of 87 years. She was born and raised in Regina, SK. As a young woman, Rosemarie moved to Winnipeg, MB to train as a nurse where she made lifelong relationships. Her class maintained reunions with the most recent being ten years ago. In 1952, she married her high school sweetheart James Orrison Burgess. Together they lived in various places throughout the world, including Nigeria and Oregon, USA, but they always returned home to Regina. Rosemarie loved to travel, stepping foot on six of the seven continents. She particularly enjoyed visiting Paris, France and Edinburgh, Scotland, the birthplaces of her parents. Rosemarie was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Anglican Church for eighty-seven years. She was actively involved in various areas of the church, especially the ACW (Anglican Church Women). Rosemarie spent countless hours organizing church events, receptions, and raising funds for overseas charities. She also volunteered as a Brownie Leader, raising funds for UNICEF, Red Cross Disaster Relief, as a docent at the MacKenzie Art Gallery, fundraising for Government House Historical Society, teaching deaf children in Nigeria, and until very recently delivering meals for Meals on Wheels. Rosemarie was a wonderful and caring mother and will be lovingly remembered by her son Blake Burgess of Langley, BC and daughter Michelle Gillis of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Rob Burgess, Nadine Burgess, Bryan Gillis, and Colette Gillis. Rosemarie’s last few years were brightened by her great-grandchildren, Ryder and Adelaide. She will also be remembered by many friends and extended family. Rosemarie was predeceased by her parents, Georgina and Robert Salmond; husband Orrison Burgess; brothers, Paddy Salmond, and Bob Salmond; and sister Yvonne Edwards. Memorial Service will be held at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, 3337 15th Avenue, Regina, SK on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Claude Schroeder officiating. Flowers gratefully declined. Those so wishing, may make donations in honour of Rosemarie to the Parkinson’s Society of Saskatchewan, 610 Duchess Street, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0R1, www.parkinson.ca. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com