GOOS, Rosalie Mae - With thanksgiving for the life she shared with so many people, we wish to let you know that Rosalie Goos died on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at Andy’s Place Hospice in Port Carling, trusting completely in the promised life to come.
She passed away exactly how she lived her life – she did it her way. Her wish was to go in her sleep and that is exactly what happened, with Mike by her side and completely enveloped in well wishes, thoughts, and prayers. She was born November 11, 1938 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the eldest daughter of Arnold Anderson and Mildred Nelson. Ken her kind, gentle and supportive husband of 42 years died in 2012. Son Michael will miss his mother when there is no longer anyone to buy gas on long trips, or treat him to Swiss Chalet (a favourite of his mother), or be there to remind him of what is to be done - again and again and again.
Rosalie’s brother Merlin and sister Rita are part of the reason she enjoyed life with family wholeheartedly. (Rosalie Mae and Rita Rae were meant to be their stage names if they went into show business!). Her sister-in-law Jan along with nieces and nephews will probably miss the Goos Gazette Christmas letter Rosalie sent each year bringing them up to date on the Canadian member of the family; and hosting Rosalie on her visits to Wisconsin. Throughout their married life, Ken and Rosalie made sure they visited all the relatives in both Wisconsin and Southern Ontario every year.
Rosalie grew up as an active member of the Christian faith and felt called to ministry within the church when she was in grade 8. Women at that time were not being ordained, so she earned a degree in Christian Education and served a church in Wisconsin in numerous capacities. Her vocational journey later took her to Labrador where she taught religion and music (and also met Ken). Her involvement in church life there led her to be called as lay pastor to Anglican churches in Wabush and Labrador City.
When she and Ken moved to Sault Ste. Marie in 1985, she was asked to serve The Anglican Diocese of Algoma and also be lay pastor for St. John’s Church in Garden River. With much encouragement from people she met and worked with she chose to pursue the path to ordained ministry and was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church in 1996.
Rosalie’s work with the diocese took her to almost every Anglican congregation from Thunder Bay to Gravenhurst as she led workshops, helped write mission statements, introduced the new hymn book, and talked stewardship among other things. Most Sundays, she led worship in Garden River. A few years after she was ordained she was called to St. Thomas’ Church in Bracebridge where she served 7 years until her first retirement. It wasn’t long before she was again in the midst of ministry as she served the Churches in Echo Bay and St. Joseph Island. A second retirement when Ken became ill ended up being just an interlude before getting back to those two churches. Since retiring a third time, Rosalie is with no particular congregation, but takes services almost every Sunday, filling in where needed, and again assisting the Garden River church.
The one thing Rosalie was grateful for after her “church life” was the opportunity to expand her circle of friends which was done through her involvement with the Algoma Festival Choir and recently the Senior Singers. She also made many new friends through 18 years of aquabics at the John Rhodes Pool.
Many times Rosalie has expressed her gratitude for her life’s journey – for the doors that readily opened to new opportunities for the variety of experiences in church ministry for participation in ecumenical endeavors and for a continuing expansion of her circle of family and friends. Her joy of music is a plus that bubbled up throughout her life!
Friends may visit the Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington Street E. 705-759-2522) on Thursday, September 5, 2024 from 5-8 pm. Funeral service at St. Lukes Cathedral on Friday, September 6, 2024 at 11 am. Archbishop Anne Germond officiating. Interment Holy Trinity Cemetery. If anyone wishes to give a donation in Rosalie’s memory, it could be to Sault Area Hospital Cancer Unit, Andy’s Place Hospice or Arch Hospice. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.arthurfuneralhome.com for the Goos family.