Ruth Schroeder

Obituary

July 7, 2024, our most wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend Ruth Vonden Schroeder passed away from this life to her heavenly home in the Morris Hospital at the age of 102 years and 9 months.

She will be dearly missed by her children Dan (Joan) Schroeder, Wendi (Sieg) Neumann, Susan Chartier (Gilles Buisson), Jack (Debi) Schroeder, and Jeannie (Bill) McVicar as well as her cherished grandchildren Marla (Tracy), Tanya (Ken), Andrew (Rowena),Trisha (Jeff), Lisa (Yvan), Jocelyne (Aaron), Ryan (Sarah), Tyler (Deryn), Dustin, Travis (Erica), Samantha (Bryce), Amanda, Cassandra (Brandon), Zachary and 12 great grandchildren who were her delight, Bentley, Ethan, Tate, Cooper, Piper, Otto, Kajus, Henry, Hayes, Finnley, Harvey, and Olive. She was predeceased by her husband John, her mother and sister Ruby and her family, son-in-law Roger and all her in laws as well.

Ruth was born the second daughter to Henry and Bertha Aebig in Winnipeg, Manitoba on September 20, 1921, a sister to Ruby. Shortly after her birth, her father deserted the family and her mother took the two girls and moved back to her home town of Nokomis Saskatchewan. She learned her resilience and determination from her mother who raised her two girls without government assistance on a farm and in town during the dirty thirties with some help from her parents and single brothers who watched out for the girls. She often accompanied her mother when she cooked for the railway gangs and would watch the men work. She learned to help on the farm herding cows and helping her mother with outside chores at an early age. She was a very good student and even completed 2 grades in one year. Mathematics was her favourite! She took great pride in adding long columns of numbers in her head. She was a tomboy and loved playing ball with the boys, being the back catcher or participating in Track and Field. She loved to skate to live music at the town rink but there was never an opportunity for her to learn to ride a bike or swim. But that did not deter her. She was active in the youth group at her church and sang alto in a mixed quartet which even sang on the radio.

After she graduated from high school, she moved to Winnipeg and found employment at the Canadian Bank of Commerce in a field that employed mostly men. At this time she was introduced to John by her sister Ruby when they just happened to meet in the revolving doors at the Bay. Soon they were dating and married on April 7, 1945. They were happily married for 76 years when John passed on before her. Shortly after she married, she changed jobs and began working for a retired judge in penal reform.( And she had stories to tell about that too!) After a few years, she and John moved to Morris in 1949 to take over the greenhouse business from John’s father.

This was all new to Ruth with no prior knowledge and expertise in raising plants but with sheer determination and self education she went on to manage the business with John for 35 years doing all the seeding, employee management and bookkeeping. During this time Dan and Wendi were born and then after a ten year lapse, Susan, Jack and lastly Jeannie was born when she was 44! She was a wonderful mother who cooked, canned, baked, sewed, refinished furniture, reupholstered chairs, arranged flowers, painted, wallpapered, and of course had a huge garden. There was nothing she would not try to tackle!

After retirement she moved to town with John and embarked on new hobbies and avenues of service. She loved to read, watch the nightly news, do the Saturday crossword puzzle, and jigsaw puzzles in the winter, crotchet, cross stitch and bake for her family and others. Her Easter paska and of course her special dill pickle recipe were family favourites. She enjoyed hosting many friends and family in her home even on the spur of the moment. She also enjoyed travelling with John. Her energy was boundless! She still hosted family gatherings in her home at the age of 90, volunteered at the congregate meal program when she was 90, led a Bible study when she was 95, and volunteered at MCC until she was 98. She reluctantly gave up her driver’s license at the age of 97 as her eyesight declined. She was unstoppable and lived independently until she was 100 when she moved to the Niverville Manor where she made many new friends.

Her faith was very important to her and she was a faithful member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church for 68 years serving in different roles. She helped John lead services at the Lodge, hospital and manor. She took great pride in arranging the Thanksgiving display in the front of the church, taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and served with Women’s Fellowship. She loved to read her Bible and attend Sunday services.

Her legacy of independence, resilience, ambition, love and compassion is one which will live on in her family. We will miss her deeply (and also the birthday cards she gave everyone with some money tucked in right up until today) but know we will see her again. A life well lived and loved. We love you Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma.

“Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all.” ~ Proverbs 31: 28,29

A special thank you to the staff at the Niverville Manor, Vita and Morris Hospitals who helped mom and cared for her so well.

The funeral service will be held Monday, July 22, 2024 at 11:00am at the Morris Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Public viewing will be held Wednesday, July 10 from 12:00pm to 9:00pm, and Thursday, July 11, from 12:00pm to 6:00pm.

A private family burial will take place prior to the funeral at the Morris Cemetery.

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