Ruta passed away peacefully with family and friends by her side on June 14. Ruta leaves behind her husband and soul-mate, John, daughter Karla (Jamie) Munro, son Kristoffer (Leah) Everatt and granddaughter Eden, her Âmother Valerie Bikinas of Hamilton, Ontario and brother Edward (Karen) Bikinas, also of Hamilton.
Ruta was born on June 7, 1954. She cared passionately for lively discussion and debate, she loved and sheltered all creatures, great and small, and was constantly in search of “stuff”. Her stamina for visiting thrift stores, garage sales (“just one more!”) and Banyen bookstore, knew no bounds.
Ruta taught in the ESL program at Abbotsford Community Services, from 1992-2000, where her approach was to teach newcomers to believe in themselves.
Her strength was legendary, her capacity to love, enormous, and her willingness to help those in need, animal and human, limitless. Ruta dared to ask the big questions; not so much “why me” as “who am I”. Now she knows. She will be deeply missed.
A celebration of Ruta’s life will be held at 7:00 pm. on Thursday, June 21 at St. Andrews United Church, Grand Street, Mission. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Mission Humane Society or BC Cancer Society.