Obituary of MARY FRANCES RUTA

MARY FRANCES RUTA

Mary Frances Ruta was promoted to glory Wednesday, August 25, 2021, in her 97^th year. She slipped away quietly and peacefully to be with her Lord, late in the night at St. Joseph’s Residence in Winnipeg. Mary was a force of nature. Fiercely independent. Selfless. Dedicated. Smart. Loving. Caring. Thoughtful. Patient. Hopeful. Helpful. Inspirational. Faithful. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Mary is the mother of Jim (Rhonda) of Burlington, Ontario, Tom (Martha) of Calgary, Alberta, and Wally, (Audra) of St. Clements, Manitoba. It was Wally, with Audra, who was Mary’s primary caregiver for many years and who devoted so much of his life to care for her and Dad.

Mary is also beloved Baba to Jonathan, Catherine, Abigail, Matthew, Andrea, Julii, and Carson. And great grandmother to Sloan. She was “Auntie Mary” to Theresa Nanka and Larry Nanka. She was well loved by her many nieces and nephews, especially in the Mazur and Wicharenko families. She was predeceased by her husband Walter in 2013, sister Jean, and brothers Joey, and Michael (infant).

Mary was born in Tolstoi, Manitoba April 4, 1925, the firstborn of John and Barbara Nabozniak. She went to school in Tolstoi until leaving home for grade 12 in Emerson. When rural teachers were in short supply, she was a permit teacher at Sunbeam School in Sundown at age 17. Then, after attending Teacher’s College (Normal School) in Winnipeg in 1945, she started her teaching career in one room schools in Zora, Cloverleaf, and Cooks Creek. She met Walter in Cloverleaf and they were married in 1949. Next, she and Walter moved to Winnipeg, and she taught at Aberdeen and Argyle Schools, and finally 20 years at Glenelm School, retiring after more than 39 years in 1985. A local newspaper report at the time said, “She was a gifted teacher who inspired respect from her students. She had a special empathy for students with learning or behavioural difficulties and to the end of her career she spoke fondly of the students she had taught.”

Mom loved to travel and visited Rome, the Holy Land, Portugal, and the Panama Canal and Alaska on a cruise, among other places. Her faith and her church were so important to her and in her latter years she attended mass almost daily at Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church in East Kildonan. She drove her own car until she was 92. She was also a member of the UCWL for more than 50 years and was a proud member of their perogy making team, cutting the best rounds. She worked quietly and efficiently as was her style.

Her family was her life. Her boys were blessed with the best mom they could hope for. She would go without so they would not. She hoped for them. She wanted for them. She dreamed for them. She loved them. She prayed for them.

The world is a little sadder today with her loss, but heaven is a lot happier. And that is how it should be. If you pray, would you say a prayer for Mary? That really mattered to her. She used to say that she couldn’t do much for us, but she could pray, and she hoped “God listened to little old ladies”. We know He does and that she is in His loving embrace today.

Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 am, Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church, 505 Watt Street, Winnipeg. Pallbearers will be Wally Ruta, Tom Ruta, Jonathan Ruta, Glenn Poole, Daryl Francis, and Travis Knight. A luncheon will be held in the Parish Centre immediately after mass. Internment will be at Glen Eden Cemetery, 4477 Main Street, West St. Paul. Cropo Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

A celebration of Mary’s life is planned for later as COVID restrictions allow.

“Well done, good and faithful servant!... Enter into the joy of your master!” Matthew 25:21