It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ruby Anderson of Calgary, Alberta. Ruby passed away peacefully in Edmonton at the age of 91. She is mourned by her two daughters Kelly (Mike Bow) and Wendy (Rob Roblesky), by her three grandchildren Simon (Jess), Laura (Colin), and Kevin (Sasha), and by two great-grandchildren Carter and Hailey. She is survived by her sisters Lenora, Phyllis, Agnes and brother Larry. She was predeceased by her husband Dick and son Rick, as well as by her father Gordon Deering and mother Martha Deering (nee Krauss), and her brothers Ray and Harvey.
Ruby was born in the Medicine Hat area of Alberta and grew up on the family farm during the difficult Depression years. She left home at age 16 to take business college training in Brooks. Times were tough and she sent money back to help support the farm and her 6 siblings. She met her future husband Dick in Brooks and they married in 1951. The couple moved to Calgary and raised the family there.
Ruby was a hard worker throughout her life, always supporting Dick and the kids. She kept a large garden and cooked and baked from dawn to dusk. She was never happier than when she was feeding family or friends in her kitchen. In the summers the family would set up camp at Kalamalka Lake where the kids would happily play in the lake for 2 weeks. The trek home always followed hours of picking in a cherry orchard and Ruby would be canning for days upon their return.
When the kids were grown Ruby took a job working in retail cosmetics at Sears for a number of years. She later volunteered at the Foothills Hospital eventually receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award as a Volunteer with 25 years of service. She was described as a “legend” for her contribution there.
Ruby was an avid walker in Nose Hill Park and the neighbourhood, and also enjoyed bowling and later square dancing with The Gliders of the Thorncliffe Seniors Centre. While she did some travelling in Canada and the US, she never liked to be away from home for long so that she could keep a close eye on her vegetable garden!
Sadly Ruby lost three partners to cancer: her husband Dick in 1993, Henry Ehret in 2008, and Don Jarmain in 2016.
She moved to Edmonton in her last years and lived in comfort in assisted living. The family are most grateful to the staff at Lifestyle Options Riverbend for the excellent palliative care that they provided throughout her brief battle with cancer and calm passing. The family will have a private memorial at a later date.
Serenity Funeral Services (South)
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de ANDERSON Ruby November 1 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Edmonton, Province: Alberta