ROSIE-JEAN (Philipzyk) MCKENZIE, BScN, RN
March 30, 1938 – April 10, 2021
Wife, mother, sister, friend, nurse, educator, musician, farmer’s daughter, nature lover Rosie lived with a spirit of adventure, tempered by thoughtful contingency planning. She passed away peacefully in the presence of family following the sudden onset of a brief illness.
Born in Athabasca, Alberta to Nick and Mary Philipzyk, Rosie was the second child and oldest daughter in an extended family of farmers and ranchers. She determined early on that the farming life was not for her.
Rosie’s schooling revealed a talent for academic excellence, and she was Valedictorian for her graduating class at high school. Ambitious as well as bright, she aspired to a medical career but faced many obstacles in pursuing this.
Stubborn and determined, she was not deterred and, at the age of 17, discovered an education in nursing would be feasible because the program would provide room and board as well as a stipend of $12.50 per month. Off she went to the University of Alberta in the fall of 1955.
The program included a year of education in general arts and sciences, three years of training leading to a Registered Nurse designation and a final fifth year (completed at the University of Toronto) to achieve her BScN degree.
The youngest person in her class, Rosie formed many deep and lasting friendships with her classmates and enjoyed a
Zoom get-together with some of them mere days before her passing.
While studying at the University of Alberta, Rosie met Allan and their dating relationship quickly deepened into a love meant to last a lifetime. They married on September 18, 1959 when Allan was still completing his degree in Engineering at the University of Alberta.
Rosie had by that time begun to work at the Misericordia Hospital as a nursing instructor, and by March 1961 began one of the most meaningful and fulfilling roles in her life when the first of her three children was born. Her instinct to nurture was such that many other youngsters were unofficially adopted and fostered over the years, resulting in long-term friendships as these people grew into adults.
Life with Allan led to many adventures, featuring moves to various parts of the country, occasionally at incredibly challenging times. Allan’s MBA studies at the University of Western Ontario were preceded by the birth of their third child in Vancouver British Columbia by only 6 weeks. Later, a key move back to Vancouver from Hamilton occurred 3 months after this same child began cancer treatments. Rosie remained a committed partner in supporting Allan’s career through all the highs and lows until his retirement in 1997.
Rosie’s own career in nursing focussed on public health and included a stint with the Children’s Aid Society in Hamilton. She particularly enjoyed the years she spent as a school nurse and running the Knight Street Clinic in Vancouver.
Whether she was taking walks with her kids in Stanley Park, camping with the family at Sauble Beach or boating with Allan along BC’s beautiful coast, Rosie’s love of nature was profound, and she enjoyed sharing her extensive knowledge of plants and birds.
Rosie was a music lover and could play the piano beautifully. Her kids fondly remember bedtime lullabies, and sing-along were common over Christmas holidays. She liked to combine her love of music with another great passion: cooking. Whatever she was whipping up in the kitchen was always made to the accompaniment of her favourite tunes.
Rosie had a keen interest in all kinds of cooking. This interest expanded to include nutrition so cooking eventually became a significant focus for her, as her massive library of cookbooks suggests. Rosie loved to teach her kids and grandkids how to cook and believed it was important to involve children in household responsibilities.
Rosie’s catchphrase “I am my own chipmunk” arose at a family dinner when Allan attempted to steal some almonds she had been eating. It came to signify her desire for independence in all things, including investing. Rosie was an inspired realty and personal investor who enjoyed competing with Allan to see who had the most success with their TFSAs.
A feisty, fiercely loving and independent chipmunk to the end, Rosie is survived by her husband Allan, daughter Janet, sons Ian (Vicky), and Greig (Shelly), as well as her grandchildren Katherine, Sarah, Justin and Alyson, and “grandpets” Bailey, Teddy, and Skye. Rosie’s story continues at www.rosiejeanmckenzie.wix.com/remembrance/about-rosie
The family are deeply grateful for the exceptional care provided by the Nanaimo Regional Hospital. Celebrations of Life are planned for future dates in Toronto, Ontario and Nanaimo, British Columbia.
Please visit www.rosiejeanmckenzie.wix.com/remembrance for information about Celebration of Life events or to leave an online message of condolence. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Nanaimo Regional Hospital Foundation or your favourite charity.
