Rita Margaret Fisher (nee Nicholson)

May 21, 1926 - April 10, 2019
It is with much love and sadness that we announce the passing of Rita Margaret Fisher of Qualicum Beach, BC at the age of 92. She touched the lives of many and will be missed. We thank the staff of the Nanaimo General Hospital for their care. The family also thanks Dr. Rob Waite and his staff; the special care givers that cared for her in her home, Barb, Marlene, Bronwen, and Madison. Lastly, thanks to Comfort Keepers and their staff, and Darcy,
Heather, and Millie.
Rita was born May 21,1926 in Oak River, MB the eldest of four daughters born to Adam and Inez Nicholson. Her husband Robert Arthur Fisher predeceased Rita in 1987. She is survived by her son Donald Robert Fisher (Kilby) of Ship's Point, BC; daughter Marian Lynne Steiner (Robert) of Edmonton, AB; and granddaughters Kerri-Lynne Garlinski of Vancouver, BC and Shannon Berta Garlinski of Red Deer, AB; grandson Corey Houston (Jackie) of Winnipeg, MB and 2 great grandchildren Dax and Van. She is also survived by her sisters, Agnes Aberdeen and Shirley Shnider of Victoria, BC and Roberta Nicholson of Winnipeg, MB, also survive Rita. She has five nephews among many relatives and friends.
Rita served in the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC) during the Second World War. Her rank was "Private Nicholson" and she was a secretary posted in Ottawa, Ontario. She always said her office was high up in the pecking order and was manned by a brigadier, his major and two gals (she being one of them). After the war she went to Normal School to get her teaching certificate in1947. She then taught school in the Mount View district where she met Bob, her husband to be. They were married in 1948 and lived in a house they hand-built across the highway from the Dauphin Airport. With her children in school, she went back to teaching at McKenzie Junior High School in Dauphin, Manitoba for another 20 years. She had a great love for sewing, gardening and knitting. You would find Rita in the garden though the summer and knitting or marking school papers in the winter months. After Bob's death she moved to Qualicum Beach to be closer to her sisters. She became a professional knitter for an alpaca farmer outside Qualicum Beach. She taught many people to knit and anyone who was lucky enough to have one of her masterpieces will cherish it forever. She loved to watch sports of all kinds, saying many times during a hockey game, "I taught that boy".
"A remembering Rita" come and go tea will be held from 2 - 4 pm. May 20, 2019 at the Home of Rita, #102 - 134 Fifth Avenue East, Qualicum Beach, B.C.
Flowers are declined, but those wishing to honour Rita's memory can make donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.