Obituary of RITCEY – Mildred Gordon

January 14, 1907 – March 3, 2011 Mildred Gordon Ritcey died peacefully at age 104 on March 3, 2011 in Calgary. She was born in 1907 in Richmond Hill, New York to Jeremiah and Mary Nickerson, both of Halifax County, Nova Scotia. The family relocated to Nova Scotia in 1919 where Mildred received her education, culminating in a B.A. degree from Dalhousie University in 1929 and receipt of the Governor General’s medal. She became a teacher and taught in several communities, including Cole Harbour, N.S. where she met Murray Ritcey. They were married in 1932 and through the years led a busy and rewarding life in the Cole Harbour – Dartmouth area, contributing in many ways to the social and cultural life and growth of the district. Mildred was at various times a school teacher, piano teacher, director of amateur plays and was on the executive board of the University Women’s Club of Dartmouth. She was an avid reader, a lover of music and a gardener. Since 1996 Mildred has resided in Calgary, Alberta to be near her son and daughter. At the time of her death she had been a resident of the Father Lacombe Care Centre in Calgary since 2001. The family wishes to sincerely thank the staff at Father Lacombe for their care and concern of Mildred during her residency. Mildred was pre-deceased in 1986 by her husband, Murray, and later by her sister, Eleanor Erickson of Dallas, Texas. She is lovingly remembered by her children: daughter, Eleanor May (Philip); son, Robert Ritcey (Marjorie) all of Calgary; daughter, Janet Cornelius of Gainesville, Florida; grandchildren Kurt (Diane), John (Sally) and Jeffrey Ritcey, Lynn Cowan, Peter (Shannon) and Catherine May (Matthew Andrews); and by ten great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the McInnis & Holloway Park Memorial Chapel in Calgary (5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary) on March 10, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. The family kindly requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes in memory of Mildred may be made directly to the Father Lacombe Care Centre (332 146 Avenue SE Calgary, AB T2X 2A3, http://www.flnh.net/donations.htm) or to a charity of choice. In living memory of Mildred Ritcey, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.