RUTH ANN MATHESON

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RUTH ANN MATHESON It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Ruth Matheson (August 20, 1919 February 5, 2007), beloved mother, grandmother, and friend to many, of heart failure, following a brief illness. Ruth will be sadly missed by her son, Terry; daughter-in-law Pat; her dear grandchildren, Suzanne (Matthew Mitchell) and Lesley; her older sister Betty; nephews, John (Martin) and Ken (Pam) Clark; and their children, and grandchildren. Ruth was born in Winnipeg, and spent her entire life there. A graduate of Gordon Bell High School, she attended the University of Manitoba before marrying and giving birth to her son. Her middle years were spent raising Terry and caring for her Mother, Mrs. Anna Williams. For most of her working life she was employed by Moore Business Forms, a company from which she retired in the early 1980s. Following retirement, Ruth thoroughly lived her golden years, making numerous trips to England and continental Europe, with friends, and her sister Betty, and enjoying her leisure time to the fullest. In later life, she took great pleasure in listening to the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts, attending the Winnipeg Opera and MTC Productions, gardening on her balcony, summer trips to Saskatoon where she swam (and dived!) in the family pool, and of course following the progress of her two beloved grandchildren as they graduated from University and embarked on their lives. Always athletic and a keen sports fan, she swam regularly in her apartment pool, and followed her beloved Blue Bombers since the days when, as a young girl, her father had taken her to Osborne Stadium to watch them. In recent years, she became equally fanatic in her devotion to the Philadelphia Eagles, a team she came to embrace after Suzanne and Matthew moved to Philadelphia. The day before she died, she watched the Super Bowl and phoned Terry whenever the Bears scored (another team she loved, having taken Terry to Chicago for a holiday that neither would ever forget). Though her death was a shock to us all, we are all grateful that she was spared the agonies of a lingering or painful end. She was found lying comfortably on her couch. Old friends, who had spoken to her just hours before her passing, remarked on her ongoing humour (which was legendary) and good spirits. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 10 at Neil Bardal Inc., 984 Portage Aubrey Street entrance. Throughout her long life, Ruth was a great lover of animals. In lieu of flowers, donations to the SPCA would be gratefully appreciated. Neil Bardal Inc. 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 08, 2007