RUTH MARY ELDERS

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RUTH MARY ELDERS (née VARLEY) Our mother, loved, admired and respected by so many left us early Sunday morning July 27, 2014. We know her loved ones, especially Jack, May, Joyce and Phyl came for her. Beautiful Ruth; intelligent, strong, resourceful, compassionate, she forged a life of accomplishments. Born December 14, 1921 in Girvin, SK, to Leo and May (née Wallis) Varley. Ruth grew up in Winnipeg, attending St. Mary's Academy and University of Manitoba (BA 1942) Jack Elders courted her from the day they met, aged 15 and 16. They married August 15, 1942 at St. John's Cathedral, Winnipeg. Their three daughters Susan, Madeline (Dave Davidson) and Elizabeth (Warren Baxter), their grandchildren Anne, Sarah, Neil, Jillian and great-grandchildren Denis, Gavin and Eliot are their legacy. Ruth's special interest, social work, led to her lifetime of volunteering (Fresh Air Camp, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Brown Owl, Junior League V.P., John Howard Society Counselor and Board Member, Altar Guild). For years Ruth worked daily at Jack's Realty, John E. Elders Ltd., as his bookkeeper (self-taught!). Relentless deafness slowly robbed her of her duplicate bridge prowess, wilderness adventures at Willard Lake, even driving her car. Friends remained loyal even as vascular dementia advanced. We loved her; our gourmet cook, talented seamstress, visionary gardener, inspired entertainer, fearless force of energy, wonderful Lady Vere de Vere, our mum. There will be a gathering of family and friends at Susan's on September 14, 2014 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 01, 2014