Rosemary Ann Bridger (9 May 1946 - 10 Jun 2020)

In loving memory of Rosemary Ann Bridger who sadly passed away on 10th June 2020, aged 74 years.

Floral tributes may be sent by 8.00 am on Friday 26th June 2020, c/o John Weir Funeral Directors, 130-132 High Street, Rainham, Kent, ME8 8AR, or if desired donations for The Wisdom Hospice may also be sent or made online via this website.

Owing to current restrictions a wider celebration of Rosemary’s life will be arranged at a later date.

Rosemary, or Rose as she was more commonly known, was born in Chatham, Kent in 1946 to her two loving parents, Frank & Winifred. The eldest of three, Rose was ever the drill sergeant to her sister Ellen and her brother Gary. She enjoyed a happy childhood, often returning to her mother's family home in Bedfordshire, taking the chance to leave the Medway towns and enjoy the quieter life of the countryside.

Through her teens Rose was ever the trend-setter; sporting various beehive hairstyles she could be seen travelling around in a hearse with her friends and attending live music concerts where she saw the likes of The Rolling Stones & Roy Orbison when they visited Chatham.

In 1967 she met the man that would later become her husband, Don, through a brief chance meeting at her family home, before the pair later bumped into each other more formally in a social club in Luton, Chatham. The rest as they say is history. Married in 1968, just one year later, Rose & Don enjoyed their early years together holidaying with their now extended families and regularly visiting the South West coast where Rose could be seen sporting a two-piece bikini and a bouffant hairstyle.

After twelve years of trying for a family, their first son Lewis was born. Seven years later, to Rose's complete surprise she discovered she was pregnant with their second son James. Rose was ever the doting mother to both her sons and nothing was ever too much trouble for her where her boys were concerned. They both grew up enjoying family holidays along Rose & Don's much loved South West coast, and she even once or twice braved the Isle of Wight ferry, something which for Rose was a big step given her fear of the open water.

Rose loved to work and worked hard in all aspects of her life, and was known for not resting until all jobs - either in the workplace or at home - were done. But in reality she seldom rested - there was always another task that needed doing or that captured her imagination. Working in clerical roles for companies in Medway until she had her children, Rose formed lifelong friends amongst her colleagues, particularly from her time at Jubliee Components in Canterbury Street, Gillingham, a company for whom she grew a deep affinity.

Returning to the workplace in the 1990s when Don experienced ill-health, Rose ultimately ended up back at her beloved Jubliee Components, this time as a cleaner, where she remained until her retirement in 2015, long after she had reached retirement age.

In the last ten years of her life, Rose was delighted to see both her sons get married and begin to start families of their own, welcoming a step-grandchild into her life in 2010, and to her utter delight, meeting her first grandchild in 2017. Whilst her health was in decline, she formed a lasting relationship with both her son's wives and her grandchildren, never happier than in their company with her husband in the family home, which she had taken such care to make as loving and comfortable as possible for them all during her lifetime.

Rose leaves behind an incredible legacy for the people she held close to her heart. To all that knew her, they would say that she had a heart of gold. Rose would always go the extra mile to make sure those close to her were happy.

She will forever be in our hearts and minds - The Bridger Family