Noreen (Bobbie) Redmond

Noreen (Bobbie) Redmond passed away on October 30, 2020 aged 95 at the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre.

Bobbie is survived by daughters Oneta and Deidre and son Michael as well as her seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, Thomas (Tim) Redmond, her sons Tommy and David, and her sisters Oneta and Beverly.

Bobbie was born in Dean Lake ON and, after a childhood in Northern Ontario, moved to Ottawa where she joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps at age 18, during WW II. Bobbie held fond memories of her time as a “CWAC” with postings in Farnham PQ and Halifax NS where she joined her sister Oneta, who had also joined the military. It was in Halifax, following her military rifle practice one evening at the Halifax Armouries, that her husband – himself recently returned from overseas service – proposed marriage.

Life as an army wife took her to many postings in Canada and also abroad, to the former West Germany. Ottawa was the chosen retirement location and became the home base for many international trips, initially with Tim and then as a solo member of groups.

Her senior years were especially active as she held a passion for cycling which led to a cross-Canada cycle adventure at age 68 (1993). After that followed several cycling adventures: up Canada’s Dempster Highway to the Arctic Ocean (1994), Cross America Tour (1995), China (1995), Australia (1996), Hawaii (1996), Ireland (1997) and finally Cuba (1998). In winter she would spend countless hours skating the length of the Rideau Canal on her speed skates.

While age eventually slowed her, the spirit and feistiness that sustained her through life’s challenges remained to the end.

A small family service will be held Thursday, November 5 at  the Westboro Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 403 Richmond Road, Ottawa.  For those who wish to do so, donations in her memory to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated.

Condolences, tributes and donations may be made at www.tubmanfuneralhomes.com.