Rosemary Jessie (Price) Nixon

Rosemary was born on September 11, 1932, in New Westminster, B.C., to Charles and Elizabeth Price. Charles was a guard at the BC Pen for 30 years.  Rosemary had an older sister Patricia and an older brother Charles “Bud” Price.

Rosemary had many great adventures in childhood and met Don Nixon at Duke of Connaught, where they attended high school.

After high school, Rosemary attended the Royal Columbian School of nursing, where she forged many lifelong relationships with her fellow nurses.

Upon graduation, Rosemary worked at the hospital in Bralorne, B.C. Returning to New Westminster, Rosemary eloped with Don in Bellingham on February 26, 1955.

Their families found out when Don’s dad Bazil heard of a bank robbery over the police radio.  Some of the attending officers mentioned that they had just seen Don and Rosemary, who had just been married!!

This is just one of the many comedic stories that occurred over 68 years of marriage!

Rosemary and Don had five children, lived in Saskatoon, Victoria (where Rosemary worked at the Royal Jubilee in the cardiac department) and finally settled on Hornby Island in 1971, after purchasing the Shingle Spit Resort.

Rosemary was instrumental in forming the Hornby-Denman Home Support Society in 1979 along with Doris Savoie, Lorna Macpherson, Penny Kelly, and Eleonor Ward.

A natural born comedian, Rosemary loved to attend community events, wearing costumes, and sharing her great sense of humour.

She also ran Rosemary’s Corner Store at the ferry landing for many years.

Weaving, painting, sewing, and knitting were just a few of Rosemary’s interests; but mainly she loved people!

Rosemary’s children believed that R.N. stood for Real Nurse.

Rosemary will be missed by her husband Don, children; Donna, Nancy, Doug, Bob and Richard, grandchildren; Laurie, Adrienne, Robert, Doug, Christopher, Emma, Lola, Bailey, Dayton, Brook, and Josh and her 14 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hornby-Denman Home Support Society or the Comox Valley Hospital Foundation.  

You are forever in our hearts Mum!