Obituary of Rose Anne Johnston

Rose Anne Johnston 1954 – 2024 Braeshore, Nova Scotia Rose was the seventh child of twelve, born in June, 1954, in St. Stephen, New Brunswick to Dr. Edmund and Evelyn Johnston. Rose seized life as a vision quest! She jumped in with both feet, grabbed with both hands, as she had learned from riding a draft horse home in the dark, became a Wall of Fame basketball star, a medical doctor, a woman who built her own house, a qigong instructor, an accomplished pianist and composer, a spiritual guide and mentor. As an MD with a practice in River John she was loved by her patients of all ages, and she loved them back! She supported women having home births in rural Pictou County long before it was popular. Her leadership in her lesbian community included starting an annual camping weekend, "Wild Womyn Don't Get the Blues" in 1983 in West New Annan, and later the "Rose Bowl Dinner and Dance" in Tatamagouche. Rose joined with Muriel Agnes and her 3 children in 1993 and became a family. They were blessed with more than thirty years of a richly fulfilling life and many adventures. Rose gathered deep friendships wherever she went. She loved to play, hike, swim, laugh and dance! The continuous opening to spiritual growth has always been a driving force for Rose that included her Catholic upbringing, participating with First Nations communities, Buddhist and Catholic nuns, walking on hot coals, and finally settling on a practise in A Course in Miracles. In her last two years Rose was part of an online spiritual community with weekly meetings and several teachers that meant so much to her. The search for good health was a rigorous road through medicine, psychotherapy, auricular acupuncture, a study in palliative care, homeopathy, naturopathy and various other alternative treatments. Rose was intense, deep and demanding. Beautiful (handsome) to look at, Rose loved to be outdoors. She swam the Atlantic and walked daily until she was physically unable. In fact, her last swim in the ocean was mid September. Rose died at home after a long, chronic illness, surrounded by her family and friends. Predeceased by her brother, Joe Johnston, Rose is survived by her loving spouse, Muriel; their children, David (Alice), Paul (Sara) and Claire (Jony); grandchildren, Ella, Ezra, Amos, Juniper, Sylvie; step-grandchildren, Scarlette and Will; and her sisters and brothers. A Celebration of Life is planned for the first week of August in Pictou. Donations in Rose's memory may be made to the Pictou United Church Spirit Glen Garden (pictouunited.com). Rose was a lover of life, a teacher, a guide, a parent, a sister and a friend that we shall all miss like no other.