Quick Search

William James "Bill" ROFF

Frasers Mountain, NS - William James “Bill” Roff, age 83, of Frasers Mountain. It is with shock and sadness that Bill’s family announces his sudden death as the result of a tragic accident on Thursday, June 20, 2019. Bill was born on July 24, 1935 to Eric and Elsie (Allen) Roff at Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England. Before attending university, Bill registered as a conscientious objector and served his national service as a member of the Friends Ambulance Unit. After graduating with honours from Queens College, Cambridge, he lectured at Hull University in England. In 1965, he emigrated to Canada to take up a teaching position at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. After 16 years at Queens, Bill decided to give up his teaching position to pursue his two passions, painting and gardening. Bill’s spirit can be found in the many paintings that he has left behind and in all the beautiful gardens he designed. It was in Kingston, where Bill met the love of his life, Nancy Chisholm. Whether they were at the race track with their horses, entertaining their many friends, visiting family in England or gardens in Italy, they were always there for each other. In 1996 Bill and Nancy retired to her family farm in Frasers Mountain, where Bill produced many paintings of the farm and scenes of Pictou County. Until Nancy’s death in 2016 Bill and Nancy spent many hours simply enjoying each other’s company in the large gardens Bill designed at the farm. Bill is survived by his sister, Janet Watson (Colin), London, UK; his brother, John (Rose), Sandhurst, UK; his nephews, Alan Watson (Maude), Edinburg, VA, USA; Stephen Roff, Sandhurst, UK; and his niece, Mary Watson-Nunziato (John Nunziato), London, UK. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Frances Chisholm, Valley View Villa; and by Nancy’s nieces and nephews, Sandy Chisholm (Kathleen), Sydney; Mary MacNevin, Halifax; Nancy Phelan, Winnipeg; Anne Chisholm (Robert Walsh), New Glasgow; James Chisholm (Pauline), Sydney. Along with his parents and Nancy, Bill was predeceased by his sister, Margaret Roff and his nephew, David Roff. A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at R.H. Porter Funeral Home, 55 Almont Ave., New Glasgow on Sunday, June 30 from 2:30 – 4 pm.
Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to Saint Martha’s Regional Hospital, The Nature Conservancy of Canada or a charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent by visiting: www.rhporter.ca

 

ANNOUNCEMENT PUBLISHED IN

Tribute

Leave a condolence

comments powered by Disqus

Quick Search

Place an Obituary

MEMORIAL WEBSITE

Create a Memorial Website