Obituary of Ruth Kennedy

Mother, grandmother, great grandmother passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 12, 2021, at the age of 103. She was surrounded by her family at her daughter’s home in Mt. Uniacke. Ruth was born on December 23, 1917, just 17 days after the Halifax Explosion. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth Phillips, Cherie Kennedy (Terence MacLean); her sister, Muriel Druhan; grandchildren, Mark Phillips (Karen), Darren Phillips (Lindsay), Geoffrey MacLean (Tanya), Adele MacLean (Lee Moore), Naiomi MacLean (Josh Bruning); great-grandchildren, Sophia and Aiden Phillips, Ethan and Evelyn Phillips, Logan and Nora MacLean, Hannah Moore; nephew, Michael Druhan; grandnephew, Spencer Druhan. She is predeceased by her husband of 65 years, William (Bill) and her son-in-law, Alvin Phillips. Ruth and her sister, Muriel (who will be 101 this month) grew up at the time of the Great Depression, which meant rations, food stamps and homemade clothes made by their mother from remnants. They lived with their parents, Gladwin and Nettie Joudrey on Poplar Street and attended Chebucto Road School and Bloomfield High. In 1937, Ruth graduated from Truro Normal College as a teacher. She taught for three terms and then had to resign from teaching in order to marry her husband in 1942, which was during WW 11. At that time married women teachers were a “No-No” in Halifax City. Later that summer the rules were changed, and she was rehired. Their honeymoon was spent in the Annapolis Valley, with the trunk of their car filled with rationed cans of gas. Ruth lived and enjoyed a very active life: biking, camping, hiking, cross-country skiing, swimming, and boating. She was very involved with the Girl Guide Organization, to the point where her husband and daughters ate, slept, and lived the Girl Guide life. She took special enjoyment organizing camps at French Village with the old army bell tents. When Ruth retired from teaching in 1978 from Sir Charles Tupper School, she and Bill began to travel spending many lovely weeks in PEI and Bermuda with their dear friends. They enjoyed many years at their cottage on West Lake in Mt. Uniacke, which later became their home. It was here that wonderful memories were made with family and especially with cousins from Boston, the Mancuso “Gang”; swimming in our lake, paddling in the canoe, munching Nanny’s molasses cookies, and taking part in a good old sing-along with Nanny playing on her organ. Music was always a large part of Ruth’s life. She studied piano at an early age and shared this gift of music with her students as a young teacher, playing for concerts and later, as a church organist. Over the years, her music became a main part of any family gathering; especially her legendary Christmas Sing-a-longs. In 2015, Ruth moved into Parklands on the Lakes, celebrating her 100th birthday there with many friends and family. It didn’t take her long to make friends and begin her Sunday evening sing-a-longs for the other residents. In 2020, Ruth moved back to lake, living with her daughter, enjoying the visits of family and the beauty of the lake. Ruth has never ceased to amaze us; with her sharp mind, her opinions of current events, the books she has read, her kindness, her generosity, and her interest in all her family’s activities. Whether she was attending a special family celebration or having a heart-to-heart chat with one of her 5 grandchildren and their spouses or reading a story to or playing the piano and singing with one of her 7 great grandchildren, Ruth was always completely engaged and genuinely thrilled to be involved in their lives. Right up to her last days she was not afraid to let us all know what had to be done, be it to trim the hedge or to pick something up from the floor. She was never afraid to share her words of wisdom to whoever was nearby. She was a beloved mom, who never ceased to let her children know that she loved them dearly. If you asked her what her secret was to a long, healthy life, she would tell you, “Do everything in moderation.” However, if you asked us what we thought her secret was to such a long life, we might tell you something else. It may have been her love for good food: from lobsters to ‘Solomon Gundy’ to salt cod and pork scraps to homemade pizza and bread! She loved her food and appreciated greatly those who provided her with these special treats. Mom, we have always been in awe of your many accomplishments throughout your life as a mom, teacher, guider, grandmother, great grandmother, and a very dear friend. You were a very special person. Graveside service will be held on Friday, September 17, 2021 at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Lakelands, NS. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Muscular Dystrophy, Canada in honour of her great granddaughter.