Rosemary Alice Giles

Born in Vernon BC in 1934, she was the youngest of 5 (Bud, Betty, Ruth and Pat). She met Glen Giles at a young age and the two were married in 1951. After 6 years together on the back of Glen’s Harley, they welcomed a baby girl (Brenda) to the family. 17 years later at the age of 40, Jason entered their lives (surprise!). Together, they travelled throughout British Columbia, living in Golden, Oyama, Osoyoos, Cranbrook and Langley. 

Holding dual-citizenship, Glen, Rosemary and Jason moved to Bellingham Washington, where she made more life-long friends and revelled in the ocean air, the beautiful lakes, and stunning mountains. 

As a young woman, Rosemary was independent and self-assured. She always looked the part. After finishing business school, she ran her own dress shop, was a baker, and an insurance agent. Later in life, she embraced her role as a full-time mother, grand- and great-grand-mother. One of her great joys was hosting friends and family for get-togethers … in her mind, food was love.

Rosemary loved the wild crocuses that grew in the hills below the Rocky Mountains. She loved to swim and was rumored to be a frequent night skinny-dipper! There was constantly music going in the house, and we all recall her humming to the piano of Frank Mills or singing along with Neil Diamond. 

While she hated camping, she loved to travel, drink red wine, and venture on road trips or abroad to warm destinations like Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand. 

While she will be sorely missed, her family and friends will always have fond memories of her calling us “cheeky brats” and the wry humor she kept until the very end.