COURAGE, Rosalie Ann
Rosalie Ann Courage, wife, sister, aunt, friend, mentor, and trailblazing businesswoman, returned to God peacefully surrounded with the love of her family and friends on February 28, 2021 after a brief journey with cancer. The cornerstone of our family, Rosalie was always available with wisdom, guidance, help, love and friendship. She spent her entire life both personally and professionally helping others. Always putting others first, “Call me and I will be there” was her promise and she always kept her promises. Predeceased by her parents, John and Celina (Bennett) Courage, Rosalie is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Richard Crouse; brothers, John (Amanda) Courage, Burlington, ON, Paul (Karin) Courage, Edmonton AB and sister, Pamela (Ken) Gardner, Timberlea, NS; nieces, Sheri and Brea and nephews, Clark and Adam. Rosalie founded RBR Associates Ltd. in 1982, one of the first fund development companies in Atlantic Canada. Her passion to make our world a better place shone through in all the fundraising projects she took on with unsurpassed tenacity. As President of RBR, Rosalie was a recognized leader in the non-profit and charitable sector. Known across Canada for her depth of experience, under her direction, RBR clients realized success and helped meet areas of greatest need in healthcare, childcare and education, religion, the environment and the arts. Under her direction, RBR client organizations throughout the country have successfully addressed the opportunities and challenges of the highly competitive philanthropic environment in Canada. She helped guide countless fundraising efforts which made possible the realization of many dreams. In addition to her professional work, Rosalie has served as Past Chair of the Canadian Progress Club Charitable Foundation, was a past Board Member of Special Olympics Canada and was on the Executive Committee as well as Board of University of King’s College. She loved King’s and was full of optimism for its future built on her own fond memories of the start she got here. She will be sorely and deeply missed in those halls. Rosalie, born on January 15, 1954, grew up in Sydney, Nova Scotia and attended Sydney Academy, University of King’s College and the Université PaulValéry Montpellier, France. An accomplished musician, her first entrepreneurial endeavor was as a Piano Teacher in her teens, instilling in youngsters a love and appreciation of music. She had a lifelong love for music, playing piano and listening with enjoyment to all genres. Rosalie also took great pleasure in crochet, knitting, sewing, and quilting. The care and love she put into these crafts came back in equal amounts from those who were lucky enough to be gifted her works of art. We want to express our appreciation to the nurses and doctors from the QEII Health Sciences Centre, especially the Palliative Care Unit on 7A who assisted Rosalie and her loved ones in her last days. We will always be grateful to those who cared for her with dignity and kindness. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private family Funeral Mass will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Halifax Nova Scotia, Saturday March 6, 2021 at 11 a.m. with Fr. Nathanael DesRoches, FoH, presiding. The funeral will be live streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7MaENc1M7k. Those wishing to honour her life may make a donation in memory of Rosalie to the Charity of their choice. Online condolences can be sent by visiting www.dartmouthfuneralhome.ca.