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Roger Bruce Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Roger Bruce
Christine
February 10, 2025
Roger, remember summer rains and dad saying let's take a bar of soap and go outside and take a shower.....such a treat from having baths! I really enjoyed those little moments. You are much loved and missed.
Christine Kelly
February 10, 2021
So many lovely memories come flooding back. A childhood full of fun, with Roger and Dad leading the hijinks! A protective big brother. An only bathroom becoming a darkroom when his interest in photography first piqued. Dad building a real darkroom in our basement, so the rest of us could make use of the original facility ad lib! Hours playing table tennis, monopoly, cards. Just we four, and our adventures into a new world starting Nov. 11, 1954, living in Flushing, Long Island, NY. Roger, you are thought of, and missed daily. Photos in family framed collections and you are one of only two on our refrigerator. Rest peacefully. I love you much. Your ever-loving baby sister, Christine
Christine Kelly
February 12, 2011
My dear Roger....oh how you occupy my mind on a daily basis....I shall cherish my memories of you forever. I miss you so much. Still can't believe you aren't with us anymore. How quickly a year has gone. I love you.
Your faithful sister.
julie schell
February 11, 2011
In a few days this book will no longer be here, and its a scary thought that its because you have already been gone a year. A day doesn't go by that I don't think of you as well as a night I don't cry. I remember that awful day like it was yesterday, holding your hand and reminding you to breath, it doesn't seem possible. Makayla talks about you almost everyday and listens to her bear to hear your voice constantly. I was going through your things and found the pocket watch I got you as a symbol of my appreciation for walking me down the aisle, it was a bittersweet moment. As you know we went to maureen hancock, all I can say is thank you! I love you and miss more today then yesterday and less then I will tomorrow and forever xo
Christine Kelly
March 16, 2010
My Dear Roger,
It has been a month...a long sad month...since you went to join mom and dad. I think about you and them every day. I visit their bench in the park almost daily and think of the three of you. Hope you all are hearing my one sided conversations?! I miss you so.
Love, Christine
DORIS & MIKE BAKER-FRAHER
February 21, 2010
DEAR GLORIA
WE ARE SO SORRY THAT ROGER HAS PASSED FROM THIS LIFE. WE ARE THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DURING THIS SAD TIME AND HOPE THAT WARM MEMORIES WILL EASE YOUR SADNESS AND COMFORT YOUR HEART.
Kirsty Phipps
February 21, 2010
I love hearing family stories and one story I remember fondly was during my first visit to America in 1982. Roger invited my parents out for a trip on his boat, while I stayed home with Christine. Unfortunately not long out to sea and the weather changed and a thick fog rolled in. There was no compass or map on the boat but somehow Roger got them all safely back to shore and I was reunited with my Mum and Dad!!!
I have happy childhood memories playing with Julie at Christine and Jim's but also at Roger's in Braintree. I remember us climbing up onto a chest of drawers and jumping onto his bed, a water mattress, something my very young brain could not fathom!!!
I last met Roger, and Gloria, in 2000 when they visited England. I was about to go off to University and Roger wished me all the best but told me to make sure I had lots of fun.
Life just isn't fair. My heart goes out to you all xkx
Eileen and Robert Blake
February 18, 2010
Robert has fond memories of his cousin Roger as children growing up in London before they immigrated. He remembers family gatherings with Roger always being full of high jinxs the one to be instigating fun amongst the many grandchildren of Thomas and Edith Bruce.
Both Eileen and I have always enjoyed his company and we know how much Eileen's late father Alf like him as well. When we visited many years ago it was no trouble to take us out on his beloved boat. He just loved being on the water.
We were so pleased we were able to visit last year and spend some time with Roger who was so brave and full of optimisim that the treatment would work.
Life is never fair but we know he knew he had a wonderful partner in Gloria and family and a devoted sister Christine and all her family.
Our thoughts are with you all at this very sad time.
Gail Gates
February 18, 2010
Dear Gloria, We are so sorry to hear about Roger. We know he will be dearly missed by you and your family. You're in our thoughts and prayers. Ron & Gail
Kathryn Ludlow
February 18, 2010
Dear Christine and family and Gloria and family,
We all have very happy memories of Roger. He was simply a lovely man, with a wonderful sense of humour and a sunny outlook on life. Susan and I remember him staying with us in the Midlands in 1954 prior to leaving for the States with Irene/Florrie and Christine. Ernie/Jim was already there. Roger was a lively young boy with a great sense of mischief. He could be relied upon to knock down the mudcastles we'd painstakingly built whilst playing in the garden! Susan recalls him saying how distracted he was in school in New York looking out the window at the Empire State Building!
We also spent memorable times with him on the Charles River in his boat. Chris, Roy and Ernie/Jim had a wonderful day sea fishing with Roger though never managed to catch a single thing! Roger's fault entirely, they thought!
He also visited us in Birmingham and Chipping Sodbury and entertained us with his sense of fun and his jokes.
On my first visit to the States in 1969 I remember going with him to Cape Cod. He was in his element there and looked splendid in his wetsuit. It wasn't quite my scene, but he took the trouble to take me along and gave me a great day.
Finally, I'm particularly glad to have spent an entertaining time with him at Carolyn and Andrew's wedding in December 2005. This was the last time I saw him and I will always treasure this memory.
God bless you, Roger. We will always remember you.
Kathryn, Roy, Chris and family and Susan and family.
Bath and Birmingham, England.
Bill
February 17, 2010
A rather humorous incident I recall is of Roger and his companions being invited into our neighbor’s for their Christmas gathering. Once seated, Roger realized he did not recognize anyone and asked for Bill Forest. It was concluded he had arrived at the wrong party and was directed to the next house set way back in the woods. Bill
Amy Forest Montgomery
February 17, 2010
Dearest Christine and family,
I have so many memories of Roger from my childhood in Norwell - all of the British invasion meets 4th of July parties at the Kelly/Bruce compound. Those were so much fun as a kid, esp. as Roger always loved to laugh and entertain, he never seemed like one of the other adults.
I remember at least once Roger took us out on his boat to the spit - he must have known how much we loved the ocean. Classic day on the South Shore.
Roger (along with Gloria & Julie) and the Kellys often attended Christmas parties at my parents' house (Bill & Avril Forest) - Roger would have the table teared up in laughter and he was always willing to participate in whatever crazy game my mother wanted us to play.
My sincerest condolences to you all. Sending you love and prayers -
Avril
February 17, 2010
Christine. So many good memories over the past thirty plus years. Your 4th of July and Labor Day parties in Norwell where we would enjoy lively repartee with Roger; a trip to the North River sand spit where he revealed the shoreline treasures to our two young daughters; more recently, of gatherings in Arizona. Of course, the most recent and therefore vivid time, is when he and your Catherine cousin stayed with us for Carolyn’s wedding. We had no problem recognizing any of the guests after his accurate portrayals. He will be fondly remembered by all our family. Avril
Jean Bowerman
February 17, 2010
With our love to you all at this sad time from Jean, Mick and family.
Margaret Bruce-Cobham
February 17, 2010
This message is for Christine and of course, for Gloria - both of whom I know are grieving so much. Gloria....I know you will remember when you visited Saint Lucia in the 90's with four of your friends when we spent some very happy hours together. You visited our home and Cleus prepared a Creole feast. Afterwards, we all managed to squeeze on to our little verandah where we chatted for hours! You also took us out for a lovely meal in a local restaurant. My brother Ian has written about the Bruce Reunion in 2000, which is I believe, the last time I saw you both. Memories will always linger and we're thankful for them. Take care Christine (we've already been in touch via e:) and Gloria....I know that you will miss Roger, but his wish will always be for your happiness, which after your grief softens, I am sure you will find again - although in a different form.
Love,
Margaret
Mary
February 17, 2010
Roger was a great guy. I spent so many happy times with him and Gloria He had a special relationship with the kids and his smile would light up the room when his grandchildren would walk in. They were his pride and joy. I will cherish all the memories. And Gloria always remember what you and Roger had was a true love story.
February 17, 2010
Dear Roger, a family friend since the 60's, you will be missed by all of us. We loved your sense of humor and treasured your friendship. Love and God Bless Gloria and family. May you rest in Peace.
Natale and Peter
Deborah Latina
February 16, 2010
A quiet friend who will always be remembered and loved....
February 16, 2010
Christine, it's funny the things that stick in the mind. I never saw Roger after 1961, but always remember how he'd greet me warmly, despite the fact that he was an RHS senior, and we were lowly eighth-graders. I also remember him telling jokes that were over my head back then, and I'm sure he's left you many wonderful memories!
Mardy Minasian
Peggy Parker
Asheville, North Carolina
Patricia Woolford
February 16, 2010
warm memories of cousin Roger as a child and as a man, may your memories bring a glow to your heart
Christopher Bruce
February 16, 2010
I have fond memories of Roger when he and I were toddlers in London in the late 40s and early 50s. I was a year older but he was much bolder and I envied him. I only met a couple times after he went to the US but I always felt close to him. Sadly he has gone and I feel just that little more vulnerable.
Ian Bruce
February 16, 2010
I should like to say a few words about my cousin Roger Bruce’s formative years in England when I knew him best. The Bruce’s were once very close knitted, held together by the presence of our grandparents. Roger’s parents, Ernie (my father’s youngest brother) and Irene Bruce, were especially close to my parents so we probably saw their family more than any other. Roger was a year older than me and a year younger than my brother and we all hit it off very well when we all got together, especially at his Croydon home.
There was (and still is) a very popular series of books by Richmal Crompton featuring a character called William who with three other friends formed a band called the “Outlaws”. If ever there was a leader of a gang, it was Roger. Not only was he was a natural leader of boys, always getting into trouble with highly inventive pranks, but he actually looked a little like William! One of our favourite games as children was “Murder” - this involved us all standing in his bedroom at night, turning off the light and then fumbling around the room trying to locate one another. We sometimes let Christine into the game, but she really was a little too young for the terror this game induced - the last thing we wanted were tears and the game being broken up by one of the adults.
I am not sure how he developed as an adult, but as a boy he was exceedingly accident-prone, maybe even clumsy - if you were delicately drinking a cup of tea, you would need to hold onto both the cup and the saucer very firmly if he walked into the room. Yet he was gifted as an artist and astounded me with his ability to delicately create pictures with just a few pencil lines on a sheet of paper.
We saw quite a lot of Roger and Christine when they visited us regularly in north London after Ernie went first to Canada and then to America in search of work and a new life. Then, in 1956 they left with Irene for America and I did not see Roger again for another 44 years. He came to England once or twice, but I never met him - but then we had a reunion of the whole Bruce family in 2000 and he came across with Gloria. They stayed with us for about a week and we sat in our sunny garden and talked together for much of that time. I really got to know him well in that short period. He was a very good tease and we both enjoyed winding one another up. For example, within a few minutes of meeting him again, and despite his having arrived at my house after an eight-hour flight and journey, I quickly managed to get him enthusiastically talking in the most graphic detail about his house’s drains.
Gloria, Jennifer and I want you to know how much we enjoyed having the two of you stay with us ten years ago. We will always remember it - and Roger with the deepest affection. What happened to him was unfair and horrible.
February 16, 2010
Gloria ~ I am so sorry for the loss of Roger. It's so hard to watch someone you love suffer but he was fortunate to have your love and support in this last year and also over the last 25 years. To go back into spirit in your own home is so comforting.
David and I have talked about Roger these past few days and we remember having some really good times together with you and Roger, David and he got along so well (and of course you and David did also) hahah. He had the same kind of dry humor David does and that's one of the reasons we love them. We will cherish the times we all had together.
All my blessings and if you need anything please feel free to call me.
All our love ~ Kate and David
Julie Schell
February 16, 2010
Roger was the best stepfather and papa anyone could have. His memory will live with us forever, he will be missed and loved everyday.
xoxoxoxo
Jill Kelly
February 16, 2010
When I was a kid we used to stop by Uncle Roger's house every once in a while and I liked to see his dog Annie. However, I was always afraid of going in his downstairs bathroom. He used it as a dark room for developing photographs, which I didn't understand when I was a kid. I just thought it was scary to use the bathroom with the weird red light. Years later I rented Roger's house in my twenties. I remember the first time I walked back into that bathroom and had to laugh thinking about how scared of it I had once been! Roger used to stop in on occasion during that time and we would chit chat about some on the things he did when he was my age and just things in general. Today I was heating up leftovers from last nights dinner and it reminded me of those chats because he would always ask if he could have some of the leftovers I had made in the fridge. I would always say "Of course you can!"
One of my favorite memories was when he took us out on his boat down the North River and out to the spit. That was a good day.
He had a great laugh just like my grandfather.
February 16, 2010
He was a great guy and will be missed. Our deepest sympathy to Gloria. Jim and Barbara Brown
Christine Kelly
February 16, 2010
He was a lovely brother. We had a lot of fun growing up. He loved to play tricks on me with our dad. One evening when I went to bed I could hear a bee buzzing in my room. I got up over and over and had them come in my room looking for it, as it buzzed everytime I laid down. They found nothing....BECAUSE THE LITTLE STINKERS HAD RIGGED UP A BUZZER IN MY BEDSIDE TABLE AND SET IF OFF WHEN THEY KNEW I HAD SETTLED BACK DOWN! Roger....I miss you! I love you. Christine
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