Obituary of H. Rosemary Plummer

H. Rosemary Plummer (Bish), RN, passed away on December 17, 2024, at Parkwood Mennonite Home in Waterloo at the age of 87. We are grateful that she passed quickly, and all three of her children had wonderful visits with her shortly before her passing. Rosie is lovingly remembered by her children: Jonathan and his wife, Terri, of Waterloo; Reba and her husband, Albert, of Toronto; and Jennifer of Smithers. She was a loving grandmother to Dayna of Toronto, Kris and his wife, Krista, of Guelph, Nikki and her husband, Stu, of Waterloo, and Jesse of Smithers. She was also a proud great-grandmother to Galen, Rosemary, and Finnigan of Guelph. Rosemary is predeceased by her brothers, William Bish and Robert Bish. Born in 1937 and raised in Kitchener, Rosemary was an avid singer and a member of her church choir as well as her high school glee club. Her official first name was Helen, but you would be quickly corrected if you tried to use it. She attended nursing school in Hamilton and became a registered nurse, a career she always cherished. In 1961, she married Jim Plummer, and together they moved around the world while raising their three children. Some of the communities they lived in include St. Catharines, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Arnprior, Hamilton, and Waterloo in Canada, as well as Thailand and Ghana. Rosemary maintained her nursing practice throughout her life and sought career opportunities wherever she lived, including working at the local hospital in Ghana, West Africa. In Thailand, she could not practice nursing, so she put her efforts into teaching a group of us at the construction site school. An enthusiastic outdoorswoman, Rosemary loved taking her family camping and canoeing whenever she could. The family fondly remembers their Sear's cedar strip canoe and huge canvas tent. Her passion for the outdoors began when she took a summer job at Pioneer Girls Camp in Muskoka.

Later in life, Rosemary had the opportunity to become a member of Beaver Creek Housing Co-operative in Waterloo, where she lived for three decades while being a key volunteer on the Maintenance Committee. In recognition of her years of service, she received the Century of Co-operation Award from the Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation. Rosemary was an optimistic woman, always ready with an emphatic "Yes!" when asked to take part in a new adventure or sing another song. Even in her final years, she was awarded the titles of "Most Inquisitive" and "Biggest Bookworm," reflecting her keen interest in life. She had a wonderful sense of humour and was known for her witty sayings that kept everyone on their toes. One of her most memorable final quotes, with her tongue firmly in cheek, was, "I don't think I'm going to make it out of here alive!" We would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Weber Woods and Parkwood Mennonite Home for their excellent care and kindness. Cremation has taken place; interment and a reception will be planned for the spring, Rosemary's favourite time of year. Memorial donations may be made to Parkwood Mennonite Home at Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St South, Waterloo, or at www.erbgood.com