Obituary of Edith Rose Switzer
Rose Switzer
Rose Switzer, the dearly loved matriarch of our family, died on December 30. She was born in 1924 in Sharbot Lake Ontario to Arthur and Annie Shanks. Her loving marriage to Lane Switzer ended too soon with his death in 1973. She is survived by her children Robert, his wife Kathi Toth, David Switzer, his wife Theresa Sears, and her daughter Merebeth. Rose was the cherished grandmother to Robert, Megan, Cameron, Andras and Marta, and embraced their respective partners Heather, Chad, Rachel, James, and Ryan. She delighted in her great-grandchildren Will, Hannah, Raven, and Robin.
She was close all her life to her brothers and sisters who predeceased her (John, Lois, Howard, Noel, and her twin Bob). Many happy hours were spent with them and their spouses. The youngest, her sweet sister Adah Crawford, will miss her. Rose was a special figure in the lives of her 16 nieces and nephews. She made many wonderful deep friendships lasting decades. She remained lifelong friends with Winn McKnight after meeting in high school.
Rose graduated as a nurse in 1946 and celebrated with her alumnae every year. She was a head nurse at Kingston General Hospital and had a long career in psychiatric nursing, family therapy, addiction research, and palliative care. After retiring she completed her second degree at Queen’s University, this time focusing on the arts and graduated in the same year as her grandson Robert. She was involved with a writing circle and had essays published in the Globe & Mail and the Whig-Standard.
She was a passionate lifelong learner with a broad range of interests. She freely shared her often feisty take on all of them. She was a great appreciator and supporter of the arts. An engaged follower of politics, she was an early and passionate feminist. She cared intensely about social issues. She was still volunteering for Meals on Wheels and the Alzheimer’s Association in her mid-eighties. She loved travelling. She enjoyed good food and drink and was a fine cook and generous host.
Her family sincerely thank the staff at the Trillium Care Community for their tender care and support of Rose these last few years.
Rose found her way into many hearts and will be kept forever in ours.
[If you wish memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.]
