Ruth Foote of Cobourg passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 24th at Northumberland Hills Hospital where she had been admitted for congestive heart failure. She was 97.
Ruth was born on November 3, 1923 into a close-knit and loving Italian American family in Kearny, New Jersey. Her parents Pasquale “Patsy” Formisano and Viola (Rodgers) Formisano raised nine children. Ruth was the third eldest. After high school Ruth attended New York University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree. She worked for a short time as a dietician at a Boston Hospital before finding her true calling as a Home Economics teacher at a high school in her home state of New Jersey. Ruth was a skilled seamstress and passed on those skills to many young women under her tutelage.
Ruth met the love of her life – Jack Foote – at the 4th of July fireworks in 1950. They were married April 29, 1951 and had 64 wonderful years together. They truly adored each other.
Jack’s work took them to New York, Caracas Venezuela (where Ruth enjoyed a short yet fulfilling modeling career) and Puerto Rico before settling in Canada where they soon became Canadian Citizens. After some years in Toronto and Markham, the family built a home and hobby farm in the beautiful rolling hills of Northumberland County near Campbellcroft where Jack and Ruth lived until 2012 when they moved to Cobourg.
Ruth was a unique and remarkable woman. A wonderful homemaker, gifted cook, and baker (her desserts were legendary) she could also drive a tractor, help build a fence and muck out a horse stall with the best of them! She had a positive attitude towards life which helped her age gracefully. She was not a complainer – even when macular degeneration robbed her of much of her vision in later years. Ruth enjoyed listening to audio books and music by Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. She was an avid walker on the streets of Cobourg and around the indoor track at the Community Center. A favorite activity in the summer was sitting by the harbor watching the boats come and go.
Ruth was a loving and generous lady and a genuine friend to many. She prioritized family above all and was a beloved mom and grandma (nana) always supportive of her children and grandchildren. We were all so fortunate to have this time with her. She will be deeply missed.
Ruth is survived by her daughters Leslie Foote, Tiffany Saunders, and Renee Foote; grandchildren Jesse Pollock-Foote, Arielle and Autumn Saunders, Andrew, and Adrian Reszczynski; son-in-law Neville Saunders; special family members Carole Lacquerre and Sade Dadd. In addition, Ruth is survived by her siblings Edie Mastro, Joe (Joan) Formisano and Connie Durbas as well as cousin-in-law Joan Lader and numerous nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Millie, Tina, Patricia, Alec, and Beatrice; son-in-law Stan Pollock and her dear, sweet husband Jack.
A private family gathering to celebrate Ruth’s life will be held in the future. Memorials in Ruth’s name can be made to the Cobourg Public Library (ear-marked for audio books) and Community Care Northumberland.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Ruth Marie
Foote 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Cobourg, Province: Ontario