GILLIES, Ruth Margaret
1948 - 2009.
Ruth Margaret Gillies (nee Neufeld) passed away suddenly November 21st, 2009 at the age of 61. Ruth will be dearly missed by her daughters, Avril Doyle and Sheena Zawatsky; her grandchildren, Tristyn and Kira; her brothers Alvin, John and Neil; her sisters Dora, Elsie and Lynne; her mother-in-law, Muriel Gillies, as well as a large extended family and so many dear friends. Ruth lived a rich and full life, and was deeply connected to her home, family and community. Throughout her successful career as a chartered accountant Ruth cultivated strong ties as a business woman, many of which evolved into close friendships. She had a crystalline character with many shining facets and she was as much at ease in the boardroom as she was during a quiet evening at home. She had a passion for knowledge that extended from the simple pleasure of a new recipe to a deep appreciation of arts and literature. Ruth lived a life of uncomplicated elegance, taking joy in many hobbies and interests. She was an avid gardener, with a particular fondness for orchids. Ruth took an epicure's delight in local cuisine, and also loved to entertain family and friends in her home. Although her loss will be deeply mourned, her desire to celebrate life will not soon be forgotten. Memorial services will be held at Matsqui Community Hall (33676 St Olaf Ave, Abbotsford, BC ) on Saturday, December 5th, 2009, from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes can be made via donation to the Fraser Valley Regional Library (www.fvrl.bc.ca) and/or the Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon division (inmemoriam@bc.cancer.ca). Messages of condolence and expressions of sympathy can be forwarded to the family at: memory.of.ruth@gmail.com.