Quick Search

Rita Rose (Jeremy-Howe) Stephens

Rita Rose (Jeremy-Howe) Stephens

Stephens, Rita Rose (Jeremy-Howe) – Boston, Mass/Millbrook, NS
It is with heavy hearts, that we announce the passing of our amazing mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great great-grandmother, godmother, Aunt, great Aunt, and friend, Rita Rose (Jeremy-Howe) Stephens. She passed away peacefully on February 10th, 2015 in Boston, Mass., after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Indian Brook, Nova Scotia on March 9th, 1934. She was predeceased by her parents, Ernest and Bridget (Maloney) Howe; husband, Daniel Stephens; brothers, Thomas Howe, Gordon Howe, Lawrence Howe, Joseph Howe and Freddy Howe, and Leo Howe, all of Indian Brook, her sons; Donald (Michael) Stephens and Daniel (Gordie) Stephens of Millbrook. Her grandchildren; Joseph (Joey) Michael Stephens, Indian Brook and Renee Rose (Stephens) Marshall, Membertou. Rita was a respected elder, teacher, mentor and devoted mother. She was also a survivor of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Church, Millbrook and travelled many times on the annual Pilgrimage to St. Anne de Beaupre’ in Quebec. She enjoyed going to yard sales, auctions and playing bingo & dice with her friends. Rita joined the AA movement in 1975 and returned to school, earning her BSW from University of Massachusetts and then her Master of Education from the Antioch University in 1981. She was a very hard worker throughout her lifetime and was employed for many years at the Boston Indian Council in Jamaica Plain, Mass. and at The Tecumseh House in Boston, Mass., where she would offer support and prevention programs to others in their times of need. Rita returned to live in Millbrook, Nova Scotia in 1989. She later found the same calling to support women and children and worked for 18 years as a counsellor at the Mi’kmaq Family Healing Centre in Millbrook, until she retired in 2012 at the age of 78, when she became ill. Rita was a very kind and caring women who always put the needs of others before her own. She left behind a beautiful legacy that will be carried on in her large loving family and friends and people whose lives she touched in a gentle, humble manner. She was loved and will be missed dearly by her family and friends. Surviving her, are her nine loving children; Shirley (James) Morris, Eskasoni, Deborah Stephens, Indian Brook, Patricia Stephens, Sydney, Jeannie (John) Stephens, Indian Brook, Kelly Elwell (Jimmy) Stephens, Eskasoni, Denice Stephens, Edgar Stephens, Bryon Stephens, and Derrick Stephens, all of Millbrook; 30 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and godchildren. Rita is also survived by sisters, Nancy (Thomas) Lutz, Maryland, Victoria (Pat) Higgins, Maine, Jenny Howe, Indian Brook and Marie Amero, Ontario. Visitation will be held at the Millbrook Seniors Centre on Thursday, February 26 from 3 p.m. until time of funeral mass at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Millbrook on Saturday, February 28 at 10:30 a.m. with Father Dariusz Miskowicz officiating. Everyone is invited to attend a Feast and Salite at the Millbrook Community Hall following the service. Arrangements entrusted to Colchester Community Funeral Home, Truro. On-line condolences may be made at www.colchestercommunity.com

 

ANNOUNCEMENT PUBLISHED IN

Tribute

Leave a condolence

comments powered by Disqus

Quick Search

Place an Obituary

MEMORIAL WEBSITE

Create a Memorial Website