Parcourez la nécrologie de Ruth Christine Phillips 1942 2023 résidant dans la province Nova Scotia pour le détail des funérailles
Ruth Christine Phillips – 81, Valley. It is with
deep sadness and heartache we share that Ruth Christine Phillips
passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2023 at home surrounded by her
loving family. Ruthie was born in Amherst and grew up on the
family farm. She was the fifth of six children of the late Helen
(Bowser) and Clifford Travis.
Ruthie attended Amherst Regional High School, where she
enjoyed participating in sports, especially soccer and
basketball. Ruthie and her siblings participated in 4-H,
where projects with bovine livestock were of particular
interest. Ruthie had especially fond memories of working with
a calf named «Snowball», for which she was
named «Miss Farmerette». Each of the Travis
children enjoyed 4-H recognition, with trips to the Royal Agricultural
Fair, Junior Farmers events, and provincial exchanges.
After high school, Ruthie attended the Normal College from
1960-1961 in Truro where she earned her Teaching diploma. It was
during her teaching studies that Ruthie met her soulmate and future
husband, Robin Phillips, who was a Nova Scotia Agricultural College
student at the time.
After completing her diploma, Ruthie taught at Brookdale
Elementary near Amherst, then Acadia Street School, in Amherst
itself. As Robin was completing his Veterinary degree at the
University of Guelph, Ruthie and Robin married on September 5, 1964,
at Trinity Saint Stephen’s United Church in Amherst. Ruthie
joined Robin in Guelph for his final year of studies, where their
daughter Paula was born. With a newborn baby, Ruthie and Robin
returned to live in Truro, where Ruthie taught at Willow Street
School. Ruthie and Robin soon moved to their permanent home in Valley,
where over the years, their family grew to four daughters with
Ann-Michele, Krista, and Alison joining the «family
choir».
Ruthie was always generous with her time, her gifts, and her
talents. Ruthie continued her love of teaching and gift for
nurturing children through raising her own daughters, and involvement
at St. John’s Anglican Church Sunday school, as well as in
senior choir, Parish Council, Vestry Committee, and Spiritual
Development Committee. She was a leader with Canadian Brownies and
Girl Guides, and other community organizations, including Valley Home
and School, Children’s Aid Society, and Cobequid Educational
Centre Band Auxiliary. For over two decades,
Ruthie experienced joy and fulfillment working with children at Valley
Preschool. «Miss Ruth» and her hand puppet
«Feathers» were a dynamic duo, imparting wisdom and giggles
in equal measure.
At home, Ruthie spent many happy hours creating
outfits for her girls and herself, from spring dresses to
prom dresses to wedding dresses, to tiny treasures for grandchildren
using her trusty Singer sewing machine. For a
time, Ruthie sewed professionally for Mahone Bay’s Suttles
and Seawinds, constructing quilted jackets and full skirts from
fabulously coloured fabric and folksy prints.
There were frequent occasions to gather with our large Travis
and Phillips families. Gatherings were times for celebration,
with scrumptious food, surprise skits, musical spoofs, and poetry
tributes to honour family birthdays and milestones. Through
the years, Ruthie, her Travis sisters, and sisters-in-law eagerly
anticipated their annual summer retreats at her brother
Weldon’s Jacksons Point cottage.
Ruthie was a beloved wife, mom, nanna, sister, aunt, friend,
wise advisor, kind advocate, maker of fun, and sometimes, even sweet
mischief. She took special care to make every person dear to her feel
loved, supported, and celebrated. Ruthie approached life with love,
gratitude, appreciation, grace, thoughtfulness, and kindness, all
while maintaining a bright, sparkling twinkle in her amazing blue
eyes.
Ruthie is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 59
years, Robin M. Phillips; beloved daughters, Paula (Roger Marsters),
Halifax; Ann-Michele MacDonald (Jamie), Nashville, TN; Krista Watson
(Philip), Mahone Bay; Alison (Michael Higgins), Lunenburg; cherished
grandchildren, Nate, Katie, Will, Alex. She is also survived
by her sister, Carolyn Phinney (Arthur), Paradise; sisters-in-law,
Dorothy Travis, Saint John, New Brunswick; Nancy Travis, Amherst,
brother-in-law, Keith Crowe, Mapleton; a great number of dear nieces
and nephews, their partners and families. Ruthie was
predeceased by her parents, Clifford and Helen Travis; brothers, Rod,
Weldon; sisters, Lorna Crowe, and
Eleanor.
Heartfelt thanks go to all of Ruthie’s loving
family and friends, Reverend Lori Ramsey and the St. John’s
Church family, Dr. Bruce Phillips, Dr. Don Rowe, Dr. Cortney Smith and
Cheryl Graham, and the extensive VON team who all gave such loving
care and support to Ruthie and family over the past three
years.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Mattatall – Varner
Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro, where Ruthie’s family
will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, November 30, 2023.
Funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Friday, December 1, 2023, at St.
John’s Anglican Church, 25 Church Street, Truro, The
Reverend Lori Ramsey officiating. (For accessible access, please use
the link doors between the buildings.) Reception will follow in
Kaulbach Hall. Private interment will be held in Terrace Hill
Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St.
John’s Anglican Church, Pancreatic Cancer Canada
(pancreaticcancercanada.ca), CEHHC Palliative Care, VON, or a charity
of your choice. Public messages of condolence may be sent to the
family by viewing Ruthie’s obituary on-line and selecting
«Send A Condolence» at: www.mattatallvarnerfh.com
1942 2023
Décès pour la Ville Truro, Province Nova Scotia
avis deces Ruth Christine Phillips 1942 2023
nécrologie Ruth Christine Phillips 1942 2023
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Ruth Christine Phillips 1942 2023 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.