Ruth passed away peacefully in her sleep at age 76. Her deep love of her family and her steadfast faith were maintained until the end.
Born in Durban, South Africa, she was predeceased by her father James in 1967 and her mother Mary in 2008.
She is survived by her daughters Tamara (Damian) and Adrienne (Graziano), grandchildren Amayah, Xavier, Lucy, and Irie, as well as her brothers Desmond, Hilton, and Willard and sisters Janet, Lorraine, Zelda, and Andrea.
Ruth lived a truly remarkable life and leaves a legacy of faith, fortitude, service, and selflessness. She challenged unjust barriers, defying the odds as a woman of colour in apartheid South Africa to become a physician in 1972. She emigrated to Canada in 1973 to ensure her children would have a better life and later supported the emigration of her mother and several siblings.
She was a skilled, compassionate, brilliant, and dedicated physician, loved by her patients. She had numerous creative and artistic outlets including singing, gardening, flower arranging, pottery, baking, harp playing, sewing, knitting, and quilt-making. She often utilized these talents to benefit those less fortunate, donating her time to make blankets for homeless shelters and food for soup kitchens.
She was a smart, strong, independent, funny, and immensely loving mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, aunt, and cousin. She was the most loyal friend, cultivating many friendships that lasted for decades. Her faith was her constant companion and source of strength throughout her life.
Ruth will be deeply missed by many, but we were all better for knowing her and will be forever grateful for her towering example.
Prayers will be held on Friday, November 25, 2022 at 7 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. – both at St. Stephen’s, North Vancouver. Interment will follow at Gardens of Gethsemani Cemetery, Surrey.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Covenant House (covenanthouse.org).
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of DR OLIVER Ruthilda Ruth Dean August 30 1946 November 3 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Vancouver, Province: Colombie britanique