June 21, 1937 – November 16, 2016

It with great sadness and loving memories that Ruby’s family announces her peaceful passing on Wednesday November 16th, 2016 at Royal Inland Hospital after a long struggle with chronic heart disease, and with three of her nieces by her side. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and in-laws, grand-nieces and nephews, two great-great grand nieces, and one great-great grandniece/nephew that she did not get to meet. Ruby was predeceased by both her parents, Francis and Catherine Gagné and all her siblings, John, Marguerite, Gwynneth, David, Sylvia, Donald, Madaline, and Michael.

Ruby was born in Kamloops on June 21st, 1937. She had a very happy childhood growing up on a small farm in North Kamloops. There was never a dull moment in the family home between older siblings dating, getting married, or becoming parents, and younger siblings needing care and attention. She graduated from St Ann’s Academy in 1955. She then trained as a nurse’s aide in Victoria and worked at both St Joseph’s and Royal Jubilee hospitals. It was during this time that she met and roomed with Doris and the two became lifelong “sisters”. Ruby moved to Winnipeg to work at St Boniface Sanatorium before enlisting and working as a Medical Assistant with the RCAF at Rockcliffe, Ottawa. In May 1959, she was stationed as a Leading Airwoman in France serving her Country until August 14, 1961. During this time, she made many friends as she travelled around Europe in in her sporty little Renault.

In July 1961, she returned to Canada and was honourably discharged. She then moved to Winnipeg where she worked as a medical receptionist until 1963. She continued this career in Calgary. During the next two decades, she travelled around Canada and the USA, always making time to visit with family and friends. Although she never had children of her own, over the years, she contributed generously to raising many of her nieces.

The next phase of her life started in High River where she established and operated Ruby’s Fashions, a high-end women’s clothing store. She was a well-respected business woman known for always telling her customers the truth about what looked good on people and what did not! During these years she garnered quite a reputation as a hostess with her famous Christmas parties where no one left without a gift. Ruby had a passion and great talent for home renos. She was a skillful interior decorator and also handy with many crafts, particularly needlepoint, quilting, and sewing. Anyone who knew Ruby knew that when she moved into a new place, she would completely redecorate it, up to and including her final home at the Shores.

In the last years of her work life she kept busy running a successful housekeeping company. She continued this until she returned to Kamloops in 2005 to be closer to her remaining siblings and their families, purchasing a house on the same street she grew up on. In the latter part of her life Ruby formed close relationships with a group of friends from South America and she travelled several times to Chile and Peru as well as hosting her Chilean friends in her Kamloops home.

Ruby was a loving sister who helped almost all of her siblings on their final journey and as predicted by her oldest sister, she was the last to leave. The family thanks the competent and caring staff at Royal Inland Hospital especially those in the ICU for helping all of us during this difficult time.

The Funeral Mass for Aunt Ruby will be Celebrated by Monsignor Desmond Monday November 28, 2016 at 10:30 at St John Vianney Church on Bank Road in Westyde. Burial will take place next summer in Alberta. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or a charity of your choice in Ruby’s name.

“This above all: to thine own self be true.” ~ William Shakespeare

Condolences may be expressed at www.myalternatives.ca

• Date : 2016-11-15
• Location : Kamloops, B.C.