Rae, Ruth Eleanor 1937- 2023
Passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at the Welland Hospital in her 87th year.
Beloved and dear wife of 63 years to Keith. Loving mother of Jeff (Kelly) and grandchildren; Matthew, Rebecca, Mikayla and Cassie. Rob (the late Lorie Schaeffer) and grandchild Olivia. Michelle Wellman (Phil) and grandchildren Ethan and Emma. Predeceased by her brother Alan and survived by his wife Ruth and their children, Dale, Darlene and families.
Ruth's family home was in Bradford Ontario from grade 8 through high school where she excelled as a student and also earned Royal Conservatory of Music qualifications. She spent four rigorous but happy years studying at Macdonald Institute in Guelph, a college of the University of Toronto which later became University of Guelph. With her Mac Hall classmates she graduated in 1959 and this tight little group of about 40 girls who nearly all roomed in the same residence during 4 years of study held an annual reunion until just before COVID in 2020.
Ruth taught Home Economics in high school after graduation from university, married Keith a year later and continued teaching for a couple of years until her first born, Jeff, arrived in 1963 and she retired from teaching to be a mother and homemaker. A second son, Rob was born in 1965 and it was a joyous occasion in 1970 when Michelle arrived, the girl they so fervently hoped for.
Life was good. Ruth loved homemaking and raising her family. Lots of getting them into activities and driving them here and there, planning family get togethers, vacationing and travelling with the popup camper behind the family sedan and watching her boys play softball and hockey and her daughter in dancing and other activities.
Whenever possible Ruth would take on new experiences. She began giving piano lessons. This was all being done on weekdays after the students finished the elementary or high school day. She and 2 or 3 Mac '59 friends wrote a cooking recipe column weekly entitled "Miranda Martin" in The Kitchener Waterloo Record, Stratford Beacon -Herald, and Guelph Mercury for a number of years. The celebrity that came with this gave her entree to being a judge at the annual Miss October Fest contest in Kitchener. When Census came around in Canada every 4 years she would act as leader of a census team which went from door to door, or more accurately often from farm to farm, gathering important information from oft time people who didn't care to share or never seemed to be home.
Part time teaching also had its place in her busy life. She was ready to accept a full-time position at a Kitchener high school when her husband persuaded her that he should quit his job at Wilfrid Laurier University and they should move to Meaford and buy an apple farm. So she went along with this, with some reluctance, but soon threw herself into running their roadside apple stand. She made many new friends and she continued her love for piano often playing for her husband Keith and their "Down Memory Lane " show, which they did about 4 or 5 times a year.. However, the farm wasn't profitable enough so they sold 3 years later and Keith went back to his former occupation in Admissions at Brock University and continued there until retirement 13 years later. During this time Ruth characteristically continued to love life, her family, friends, home and church and taught a weekly group of 25 piano students. She stopped teaching when Keith retired but there were longer travels and a growing number of grandchildren with which to find delight. Keith describes her as being "so smart, so loyal, so caring, so positive and full of life.
The memorial service to honour Ruth's life will take place at the Fonthill United Church, 42 Church Hill, Fonthill on Saturday, November 25th at 1:00 pm. Visitation will be held beforehand from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. Interment will follow at Fonthill Cemetery. The service may also be viewed via livestream be going to the funeral homes Facebook page the time of the service.
As an expression of sympathy donations may be made to Fonthill United Church.
Condolences may be shared at www.pelhamfuneralhome.ca
