Obituary of Margaret Violet "Vi" Rush

A LIFE WELL LIVED

Margret Violet Rush nee Cooper 82 yrs of age passed away peacefully at Chatham Kent Hospice surrounded by family in prayer with Reverend Father Maroney. She was born and raised in Belfast N.Ireland, the first born daughter of the late Elizabeth (Brown) and John G. Cooper. In her early years she worked as a shop assistant in an Irish linen Establishment in the days when it was exported worldwide. In 1952 she was nominated by fellow employees to enter the Miss Irish Linen Queen contest. She won and spent an interesting year travelling around the country attending various functions as part of her duties.

In 1954 she first visited Paris with Ivor and fell in love with the City of Lights visiting it five times over the ensuing years. In 1956 Vi and Ivor where married in St Andrews Church of Ireland in Belfast. A week later they boarded the S. S. Neptunia on a 7 day voyage to Canada landing first in Quebec City and from there to Toronto where they lived and worked for the next 4 years during which time their first daughter Sharon was born. The family moved to Chatham in 1960 when Ivor was transferred and made many new and lifelong friends. Two more children arrived; Tracy and Brad. Vi and Ivor both became members of the Kinsmen Club and Vi was a past President of the Kinettes. She enjoyed helping on the various projects promoted by the Club such as “The Communities Greatest Need”. She very much enjoyed the social side and the many conventions she and Ivor attended including the National in Halifax in 1967. Vi was also an active member of the Maple City Golf Glub and the Granite Club and was given many great years and memories there. When her children were grown she decided to go back to work and was hired by the City of Chatham in the Department of Social Services where she remained until she retired at 65yrs of age. During those years she went back to school and upgraded her primary education. She eventually graduated from the University of Windsor with a B.A. in Psychology which was a very proud moment for her family. She was an avid gardner and passionately pursued the Master Gardner Program and obtained the Master Gardner designation. For over 30 years she volunteered at the YMCA teaching aerobics, aqua fitness and yoga and  continued to instruct until she was over 80yrs old when a fall in her beloved garden forced her to retire. All in all she had a very good life and her family were her everything. She had many talents. She was an accomplished ballroom dancer, and for years with an hour glass figure modelled for the Hadassa at their Annual Fashion show. Her most important talent though was being able to touch people which she did with her sincerity, her compassion and her smile. 

Predeceased by her younger sister Kelly she is survived by her three children; Sharon (Glenn ) Turnbull, Tracy Rush, and Bradley (Cassandra) Rush. She was cherished grandmother of Henry Cooper Rush and Rachel Louise Rush. Also sadly missed by my nieces and nephews; Caroline Timothy and Stephanie Beattie. Many thanks to the Chatham Kent Hospice staff of doctors, nurses, caregivers, and volunteers, especially Dr Bob Mayo, Amy, Shannon, Cathy, Becky and Effie. As were Violets wishes there will be no public Funeral Home visitation.

Cremation is taking place and a private service will follow at Holy Trinity Anglican Church with internment of ashes to follow at a later date. Donatons to the Chatham Kent Hospice or Canadian Cancer Society appreciated. Online condolences welcomed at www. Peseski.com.

 

 

Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Henry Scott Holland

 

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

 

When I am Gone
When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile
Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile

Forget unkind words I have spoken
Remember some good I have done
Forget that I ever had heartache
Just remember I had lots of fun

Forget that I've stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day

And please don’t grieve long for my going
I would not have you sad for a day
In summer just gather some flowers
And come to the place where I lay

Come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best