Tribute

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend Ruth Doney, who passed away peacefully on July 29th after a brief illness. Ruth was born and raised in Lake Cowichan to parents Ellen and John Tasa. Growing up she loved swimming in the Cowichan River and had many pets which developed into a lifelong love of animals. As a young woman she moved to Vancouver with her best friend Doris, where she established her independence and began her career as a telephone operator, before eventually returning to her roots on the island. She married in 1954 and had three children with husband Rick. Ruth was an excellent homemaker and loved making preserves, baking and sewing-she sewed and knit many of her own and her children’s clothes. In her later years she enjoyed her pets, socializing with her friends and her passion for gardening. Ruth’s greatest love however, was for her family, children Denise, Mark and Mona, grandchildren Colleen, Brian, Danielle and Corey, and great grandchild Keira. She loved having us all together for family dinners.

Predeceased by her father in 1977, mother in 1996 and lifelong best friend Doris McKinney in 2009, she is survived by Sister Ruby and Brother Vince (Helen) and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Roy Gilbert and the staff at Cowichan District Hospital for their compassion and outstanding care.

A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at St. John’s Anglican Church located at 486 Jubillee Street in Duncan BC on Friday August 3rd at 10am. Flowers gratefully declined, if so desired a donation may be made to Cowichan SPCA.