Obituary for
Ruby Bernadette Woolley
Woolley, Ruby Bernadette 89 – Truro, passed away in the evening hours of Tuesday, January 8, 2019 in Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Truro following a six month siege with a rapidly deteriorating heart. It was an affliction that she bore with fortitude following a heart attack in July of 2018. Besides her husband, Dan, she is survived by three nieces, Valerie Thurab, New York, Rosemary Gopiechan Singh, Trinidad, Valerie Perotte in Davie, FL as well as a nephew, Stephen Thurab, Toronto. Born in Trinidad on October 30, 1929, Ruby was orphaned at the age of three, along with her two siblings, Violet and Abraham, by a house fire that killed their parents. She had the misfortune of being sent to live with an emotionally and physically abusive aunt, who, when Ruby turned 16, ejected her violently from her home when Ruby refused to end her education and go out to work. A first cousin, Elizabeth Girdharrie, found her bleeding on the street and gave her refuge in her own home until Ruby could complete her education. A friend of hers recently commented, “It is a wonder she didn’t turn out hard, mean and embittered considering what she suffered.” Ruby then worked as a helper to George and Sybil Ho in San Fernando, Trinidad where she assisted with domestic tasks and the raising of their nine children who became her lifelong friends. Ruby later trained as a dental nurse and worked with the Trinidad Government Dental Service. In the early 1970’s, three Ho sisters, first Judy, then Lynn and Glenda, moved to Canada and stayed, initially with Ruby who lived in Halifax. Ruby immigrated to Canada in 1965 after the 1964 death of her fiancé in a car crash. A cousin in Halifax and his wife, Irvine and Margaret Gazee sponsored her immigration. Ruby got a job at the Halifax Infirmary as a nurse’s aide, then trained and graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1969, working at the infirmary until October 1984. After her marriage to Dan Woolley, they moved to Fredericton, N.B. where Dan worked as an information officer for the provincial Department of Natural Resources. In 1985, they moved to Ottawa where Dan worked as a speech writer for the Minister of State for Forestry, returning to the Maritimes in 1989 when his work term expired, settling in Valley, N.S. Ruby then worked as a casual LPN at the Colchester Regional Hospital until 1995 when she began work with the VON as a visiting Home Support Worker. Ruby retired in December 2016 and the next month, she received a letter from the President of the VON praising her outstanding and dedicated service, stating, “VON was fortunate to have you.” Her VON clients appreciated her compassionate nursing care and her considerable skills as a cook. She loved to cook, hosting people to dinner and sharing her culinary triumphs with neighbours, friends and co-workers. She also enjoyed playing cards with friends and knitting dish cloths and other handcrafts, most of which she gave away. Travel was another favourite past-time. In the past eight years, she and Dan took three cruises to the Baltic Sea, the Western Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean, including a memorable stop in Port of Spain, Trinidad, plus three flights to Jamaica. Ruby loved gardening, flowers, shrubs and house plants, but in lieu of floral tributes, charitable donations to the VON, Colchester East Hants Health Centre Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Diabetes Associations, St. James Presbyterian Church or charity of choice would be greatly appreciated by her husband. In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place under the direction of Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow St., Truro. Dan is planning a Celebration of Life Memorial Service for June 15th, 2019. Details of service to be indicated closer to service date. Online condolences may be sent to family by visiting: www.ColchesterCommunity.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Ruby Bernadette
Woolley 1929 2019..
colchester community funeral home
Death notice for the town of: Truro, Province: Nova Scotia