Rosemary Florence Alexander (Bell), 66, passed away peacefully surrounded by her beloved family on Friday April 12th, 2024 after a brave 9 year battle with ALS. Born on April 5th, 1958 in Etobicoke to Warren Noel Bell and Marguerite June Bell (Baker), her departure leaves a profound void in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her and love her.

Rosemary devoted her life to others. To know her was to feel a constant warmth and generosity, coming in the form of home cooked meals, passionate support, enthusiastic conversation, and infectious laughter.

Rosemary’s happy place was the kitchen, where she poured her love into delicious meals for her family, often dancing while doing so. She created a lively and joyful atmosphere and welcomed all into her home as family. Rosemary also enjoyed the finer things in life; she was a skilled piano player and painter, loved traveling the world exploring wineries, skiing mountaintops, hiking forests, swinging tennis rackets and golf clubs, and sharing a laugh with friends and family.

Blessed with a green thumb, Rosemary passes on her gardening talents and love of nature to her beloved daughter, Kathleen, a landscape architect — a testament to her nurturing spirit.

Following her graduation from Kipling Collegiate High School, Rosemary pursued her passion for teaching, obtaining her Bachelor’s degrees in Science and Education from the University of Toronto in 1981 and 1982, specializing in child psychology. She later returned to U of T to earn her Masters of Education in 1984.

Rosemary was a nurturer through and through. In her 29 years as a Special Education Teacher at the Toronto District School Board, she left a profound impact on her students, keeping in touch with many long after they left her classroom. Rosemary became a guiding beacon for her students, fiercely advocating for their needs and instilling in them a lasting belief in their own worth.

Her retirement was cut short by her illness, yet she continued to connect with friends and remained a loving supporter of her family as they graduated school, got married, and created their own loving families.

She now rests in peace, reunited with her parents, cherished aunt Florence Crompton (Baker), and her feisty feline companion, Oliver. Rosemary is survived by her devoted husband, Donald Mathew; her children, Ryan and Kathleen Alexander (father Roy Alexander); her stepson, Douglas Mathew; her granddaughter, Sophie Rose Chalmers, and her daughter- and son-in-law, Melody and James. She will be deeply missed by all.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Rosemary's dedicated caregivers, whose thoughtfulness and attention ensured her comfort until the end.

As we gather to bid her farewell, let us honor Rosemary's vibrant life at the visitation scheduled for 5pm to 8pm on April 18th, 2024, as well as at the funeral service scheduled for 11am on April 19th, 2024. Both will take place at Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel at 2357 Bloor Street West in Toronto.