Obituary of Elizabeth Rochester

Audrey Elizabeth Rochester (nee Manser) died peacefully at the Agnes Pratt home in St. John’s, on Feb 17, 2025 at the age of 94. She is survived by Michael, her loving husband of nearly 67 years, their dear children Susan, Fiona, and John, much-loved granddaughters Alana and Talia Hennessy, and beloved sister-in-law Ginny (David).

Born in 1930 in Glasgow, Scotland to Jessie Harkness and Frank Manser, Elizabeth emigrated to Canada a year later with her parents and grew up in Toronto. A central event in her life occurred when, at age 16, she was attracted to the teachings of Baha'u'llah and became a believer, enrolling in the Baha'i community in 1949. Even in those early years she was widely known in the Canadian Baha'i community as a brilliant speaker and soul-sensitive teacher of the Baha'i Faith.

After completing her B.A. in Sociology and Philosophy at the University of Toronto in 1952, she worked as a secretary for the Canadian Education Association and as a travelling researcher for Procter & Gamble. She returned to Toronto to study Social Work, finishing her BSW in 1955. In 1958, while working at the East End Settlement House in Toronto, she and Michael married and moved to San Diego, CA,  where Michael was finishing his Ph. D.. There she worked for the Girl Scouts until Susan was born in 1959. They returned to Toronto, and Fiona was born in 1960. In 1961, the family moved to Kitchener, ON, where John was born in 1965. In 1967 they moved to St. John's NL, which became the family home for the rest of Elizabeth’s life.

For most of her adult life, Elizabeth served the Canadian Baha'i community as her highest priority. She organized and hosted weekly firesides in her home for over 70 years. These gatherings proved attractive to countless seekers. In 1971 she spent a month visiting Iran, the homeland of Baha'u'llah and site of one of the largest Baha'i communities in the world. For 12 years (1966-67, 1972-83) she was elected to serve as one of the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada. In that capacity, Elizabeth attended 3 international conventions to elect the senior Baha'i administrative body, the Universal House of Justice; travelled across central and west Africa (1980) visiting Canadian Baha'is in 11 countries; and gave a soul-stirring address at the International Baha'i Conference in Montreal in 1982. She served on the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of St. John's for nearly 40 years, was appointed to the Regional Council of the Baha'is of Atlantic Canada for 10 years, and was a valued teacher at many Baha'i summer and winter schools across Canada.

Elizabeth loved playing the piano and listening to music, especially to Michael singing, although she always refused to sing herself! She was an inspired cook and gardener, loved berry picking, was a strong swimmer, and enjoyed the arts: making and buying so much pottery, and collecting paintings by her friend Ingeborg Mohr.  She was a wise counsellor, and a devoted friend who is fondly remembered by a host of people across Canada, the US and other countries from New Zealand and France to Zimbabwe and the UK. She immersed herself in study and meditation on the scriptures of the Baha'i Faith, and eagerly communicated her insights and enthusiasm for what she read. Serious conversation around the table at mealtime was a delight to her, often prompted by her favourite question “What are you thinking?”

Elizabeth cared for her mother during Jessie's last 3 years of life, so she knew that the onset of Alzheimer's disease was a distinct possibility. This diagnosis was confirmed in 2016, a year after she first noticed loss of memory. Susan returned home to care for her mother, and did so sacrificially until December 2021 when Elizabeth moved to the Agnes Pratt Home. The family is grateful to the many kind caregivers there who looked after her needs until her passing. She was visited almost every day of the week by Michael, family members and faithful friends from the local Baha'i community. The family is indebted to her many devoted friends, including Lynn Sorensen, Joan, David and Jennifer Rendell, Margaret and Harry Connors, Bob Gagnon, Iain Murray. Joe Carter, and Carolyn Abbott. The following message was sent out to the Baha'is of Newfoundland and Labrador by the local Assembly,

 We are very saddened to share that Elizabeth Rochester, a founding member of this community, passed to the Abhá Kingdom this morning. We will always cherish her loving kindness and devotion to the community, and will miss her bold and energetic thinking which reflected her cherished desire to share the message of Bahá'u'lláh with as many friends as possible... Her special devotion to teaching children made a contribution not only locally, but nationally. Her record of service … continued to an elderly age. Even in the nursing home, she continued to teach by her interaction with others. Her devotion to the friends, the administration and to Newfoundland were unlimited.

Elizabeth’s burial and graveside service will take place at 2 pm on Thursday, February 20 at the Anglican Cemetery on Kenmount Road, in St. John’s NL. For directions, please contact Hickey’s Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either the Alzheimer Society of NL or the Jacob Puddister Memorial Foundation. A memorial service will be held at a later date.