Obituary for Ruth June Gillard (Jones)
Ruth June Gillard left this world Monday February 15th just before 6am, the night was late and the morning was early but she was still beautiful.
Ruth was born to Thomas G. and Sylvia L. Jones on March 12th, 1942, the middle of five children. In October of 1959 she married Charles Bruce Gillard at the United Church in Iroquois which began a love story right out of the pages of a Harlequin romance novel. Bruce and Ruth met at a pool hall which seems racy but while burning the love letters Bruce wrote her when he was in the Navy, Ruth repeatedly assured her children it was not. Ruth was one of those women who teetered on the crevasse of 1950’s house frau and 1960’s free thinker (with a hard lean to the 50’s housewife, for example Paul got a computer after successfully completing his first year of university and Anne got a sewing machine, a Kenmore). She shook her hips to Elvis Presley and crooned along to Charlie Pride, loved a good Toby Keith song and would attempt random piano tunes by ear after “a few”. Other skills include dancing her way off a houseboat without spilling her drink, continually claiming to be “110% and could fashion a mean grass skirt out of cat tails and duct tape.
“You are My Sunshine” belted out from the piano in the basement around 5am most weekdays which was quickly followed by the sharp cracking of no less than 12 ice cube trays, the Electrolux searching for dust under every bed in the house regardless of the occupants, a full clothesline and meal prep complete. Ruth was an avid bridge player and played with the same 3 women weekly for at least 40 years. Ruth excelled at budgeting and extreme frugality, social media prowess while attempting to join Twitter to follow The Social (she was told, Twitter is only available to those ages 25 and under) and could be counted on to provide guidance without being asked. Ruth had the most amazing group of friends (who shall not be named for fear of missing any) and could literally clean anything with vinegar, baking soda and ammonia!
Ruth leaves behind a son, Paul, his wife Stephanie and their two boys; Spencer and Cole who loved their Ruthie for many reasons but mainly for her appetite, when she said she wasn’t hungry.
A daughter Anne, her spouse, “never mind, x2” and Alex who we all know was “THE FAVOURITE”.
Ruth was an avid hockey Mom (before that was really a thing) and provided much support and cheering. Every weekend from October to April was spent at the rink and she loved every moment of it. The screams of “shine Sonny shine” have been heard in rinks all over eastern Ontario and northern New York State. Trips to the local public library, countless hours sewing doll clothes and Anne has vivid recollection of how she was tied to the ironing board every weekend and yanked up to the laundry sink to have her hair washed with scalding water.
Ruth was also predeceased an infant daughter, Beverley Christine.
Honorable mention goes to the following; the time she drove her car into Dairy Queen, left her husband at the side of a country road in the dead of night with nothing but a honk and single fingered “wave”, when she punched the Prodigal so hard, he ended up in the dog bed, the year when she won the Halloween costume contest at the Daniel’s Hotel and her husband found the prize-winning shirt on the back of the bed,
falling out of a canoe where she surfaced yelling not for the safety of her child for the location of a pack of smokes and a mickey of rye and let’s not forget the time she went trick or treating in 1988.
Rest easy Mom!
Due to Covid 19 Restrictions a Private Family Service will take place. Interment in St. Lawrence Valley Union Cemetery 15570 County Road 2., Ingleside, ON. Send flowers, place a donation to Prescott Public Library (613) 925-4340), Prescott's New Arena (Cheques payable to Town of Prescott with New Rink on memo) or share a special memory of Ruth at www.mackayfuneralhome.com
Ruth was born to Thomas G. and Sylvia L. Jones on March 12th, 1942, the middle of five children. In October of 1959 she married Charles Bruce Gillard at the United Church in Iroquois which began a love story right out of the pages of a Harlequin romance novel. Bruce and Ruth met at a pool hall which seems racy but while burning the love letters Bruce wrote her when he was in the Navy, Ruth repeatedly assured her children it was not. Ruth was one of those women who teetered on the crevasse of 1950’s house frau and 1960’s free thinker (with a hard lean to the 50’s housewife, for example Paul got a computer after successfully completing his first year of university and Anne got a sewing machine, a Kenmore). She shook her hips to Elvis Presley and crooned along to Charlie Pride, loved a good Toby Keith song and would attempt random piano tunes by ear after “a few”. Other skills include dancing her way off a houseboat without spilling her drink, continually claiming to be “110% and could fashion a mean grass skirt out of cat tails and duct tape.
“You are My Sunshine” belted out from the piano in the basement around 5am most weekdays which was quickly followed by the sharp cracking of no less than 12 ice cube trays, the Electrolux searching for dust under every bed in the house regardless of the occupants, a full clothesline and meal prep complete. Ruth was an avid bridge player and played with the same 3 women weekly for at least 40 years. Ruth excelled at budgeting and extreme frugality, social media prowess while attempting to join Twitter to follow The Social (she was told, Twitter is only available to those ages 25 and under) and could be counted on to provide guidance without being asked. Ruth had the most amazing group of friends (who shall not be named for fear of missing any) and could literally clean anything with vinegar, baking soda and ammonia!
Ruth leaves behind a son, Paul, his wife Stephanie and their two boys; Spencer and Cole who loved their Ruthie for many reasons but mainly for her appetite, when she said she wasn’t hungry.
A daughter Anne, her spouse, “never mind, x2” and Alex who we all know was “THE FAVOURITE”.
Ruth was an avid hockey Mom (before that was really a thing) and provided much support and cheering. Every weekend from October to April was spent at the rink and she loved every moment of it. The screams of “shine Sonny shine” have been heard in rinks all over eastern Ontario and northern New York State. Trips to the local public library, countless hours sewing doll clothes and Anne has vivid recollection of how she was tied to the ironing board every weekend and yanked up to the laundry sink to have her hair washed with scalding water.
Ruth was also predeceased an infant daughter, Beverley Christine.
Honorable mention goes to the following; the time she drove her car into Dairy Queen, left her husband at the side of a country road in the dead of night with nothing but a honk and single fingered “wave”, when she punched the Prodigal so hard, he ended up in the dog bed, the year when she won the Halloween costume contest at the Daniel’s Hotel and her husband found the prize-winning shirt on the back of the bed,
falling out of a canoe where she surfaced yelling not for the safety of her child for the location of a pack of smokes and a mickey of rye and let’s not forget the time she went trick or treating in 1988.
Rest easy Mom!
Due to Covid 19 Restrictions a Private Family Service will take place. Interment in St. Lawrence Valley Union Cemetery 15570 County Road 2., Ingleside, ON. Send flowers, place a donation to Prescott Public Library (613) 925-4340), Prescott's New Arena (Cheques payable to Town of Prescott with New Rink on memo) or share a special memory of Ruth at www.mackayfuneralhome.com