Nina Watkiss

Watkiss, Nina Ethel  (née Wheeler)

July 19, 1926 – Nov 1, 2021

Born in London, England, she was the only daughter of Arthur and Nina Wheeler and had four brothers – Tom, Tim, Arthur who pre-deceased her, and Lesley. Adored by her brothers and father as the only girl, Nina learned to hold her own amongst her brothers, a trait she held till the very end.

Her teenage years were interrupted by the war, the family losing their home during the Blitz. Her sense of duty led her to join up and she was posted to Berlin to assist in the post-war efforts. Nina often talked of this time in Berlin as being filled with adventure and interesting friendships, and this is where she met her lifelong love, Cedric Watkiss, a sergeant in the Royal Corps of Signals. Their love was an enduring one and lasted over 72 years.

Following the war Nina and Cedric settled in Warwick, England and started their family. A few years after their first son, Terry, was born, they embarked in 1953 headed for a new life and adventure in Canada where Cedric would be employed by Central Mortgage and Housing Canada (CHMC) in Ottawa. Roger was born a couple of years after they arrived in Ottawa and with the arrival of Janine their family was complete. Nina quickly adapted to Canadian life and early family films show her skating, engaging in snowball fights with the kids and enjoying the outdoors.

The family moved to Waterloo in 1960, and this is where Nina planted her Canadian roots. Family trips, often recorded on Super 8 movies, showed Nina at home and having fun in the Canadian wilderness, on trips with Cedric to the Caribbean, and enjoying the ultimate Canadian celebration, Expo ’67. An avid gardener and flower aficionado, Nina was active in the Kitchener/Waterloo Garden Club, winning numerous awards and accolades for her avant garde flower designs and becoming an internationally recognized judge of flower arranging. She held many leadership roles in the Garden Club including president over the years. Her community involvement extended to volunteering at the hospital, meals on wheels and anything else that needed her help.

An eager first-mate on the family’s sail boats, despite never having learned to swim, Nina made enduring friendships wherever they sailed. Summers in the Thousand Islands often saw Nina baking bread in the boat’s small galley and sharing it amongst the dock mates wherever they happened to be. She was an accomplished badminton and table tennis player, who was fiercely competitive. In later years they spent winters in Florida, again making friendships everywhere they travelled.

Nina’s later years were marked with a courageous battle against Alzheimer’s, and regardless of what that disease took from her, flashes of her true self often shone though. She passed away peacefully on November 1, 2021 with her beloved Cedric at her side, whose care and devotion are a reminder to us all that true and enduring love continues to exist.

In addition to Cedric, she is survived by her three children, Terry (Sally Smith), Roger (Ulli) and Janine Rotenberg (Matthew), her six grandchildren (Bevan, Miranda, Garrett, Sarah, Emily and Jeremy) and six great grandchildren (Julianna, Kaylee, Simon, Adelaide, Henry and Andrew).

A big thank-you from all of the family to the devoted staff at Carleton Lodge in Ottawa who cared for Nina and ensured her comfort. Those who wish to honour Nina may do so through a contribution to a charity of their choosing.

In keeping with family wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no funeral. Friends of the family are welcome at a Celebration of Life to be held at Marlborough Community Recreation Association Hall, 3048 Pierce Road, North Gower on Sunday, December 19th from 2:00 to 3:30 PM. (City of Ottawa Covid-19 rules apply). Those wishing may make memorial donations to the charity of their choice.