Rhoda Beatrice Feetham

1929-2025

After 96 years Rhoda (Baggett) Feetham has gone to be with her late husband Bob Feetham and son Leonard. 

Predeceased by her parents Fred Baggett and Violet (Brown), brothers John, Malcom and Harold, and sisters Mildred and Florence along with their spouses. Survived by her four children Cynthia, Christopher [Lynda], Anne and Mary, along with grand children Janice (Bruce), Wayne, Nicholas and Erica [Terry]. Also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family members. 

Rhoda grew up on a remote family farm in Crousetown in Lunenburg County, NS. She was the fourth of six children. She often told stories of farm chores including milking cows and churning the cream into butter, or teaming the Ox to haul hay into the barn. She had her own axe that she used to split firewood after school. In the days before electricity, her crowning chore was gathering all the oil lamps on Saturday morning to trim the wicks, clean the shades and refill with oil. Her vivid descriptions of this farm life were informative and fascinating to listen to. Those who knew her well realised that she was sharper and more observant than she generally let on. 

After leaving school Rhoda worked in several hotels along the South Shore. Later she worked as a telephone operator (“may I have the name of the person your are trying to call please”) in the Annapolis Valley where she met her future husband Bob. After they were married, they built a small house in Windsor Junction where Bob could catch the train into Halifax for work. Rhoda also met her best friend Dean when Dean and her husband Ed Frizzell lived with them when starting out. 

After having lived in Halifax for several years, Bob and Rhoda built a large house in Fairview and continued to raise their family while participating in the community. They also built a summer cottage on Grand Lake near the Horne Settlement that became grand central for much of the Feetham clan. The cottage with the lake, the beach, the wharf and the boats were irresistible and it took deep winter snow to prevent spending weekends there. Rhoda loved it (or put up with it) and managed to keep two homes operating to welcome many relatives and friends for the next 24 years. 

When Bob retired they built another home in the Horne Settlement just a mile and a half down the road from the cottage. Another 27 years of family and friends were catered to by Rhoda and she loved it. Rhoda also ran an occasional Bed & Breakfast before it became trendy and helped many a traveler find a room, a meal and a sympathetic ear. She met hundreds of people this way over the years and served them her famous homemade bread and jams. 

Her family spent many happy days at the cottage on Grand Lake (she named it Windshift). One of her favorite activities was boating on the lake in the Cabin Cruiser just before dusk after all the relatives and friends had gone back home. Even though Rhoda had many health concerns over the years she caried on running her home and her cottage serving fabulous meals to anyone who came through her door. 

Rhoda supported her overachieving husband while active in her community and church as a member of the Catholic Woman’s League. 

After Bob passed away in 2013 Rhoda continued to live in Enfield, by moving out to the village. But she continued to spend time at the cottage that was maintained intact to remind her of the old days. In her early-nineties she was still immersing herself in the cottage and the many things she had placed there since 1962. 

As her health declined in her mid-nineties she moved to the Mira Nursing Home in Truro. Rhoda still got a few trips in to her cottage, and yes, it was still 1962. After 4 years at the Mira she passed away peacefully on Sept 22, 2025. 

Special thanks to the Doctors, nurses, CCAs and staff at the Mira who made her last days comfortable. Extra special thanks to Robin and Nancy Feetham for all you did for Aunt Rhoda. 

Internment services will be held at the cemetery next to St. Bernard’s Church in Enfield on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM. This will be a very low-key event in keeping with Rhoda’s wishes. Thanks to all who had the good fortune to know and appreciate her.