Obituary of Ruth Gwendolyn Ellsworth

Ruth “Teddy” G. Ellsworth (Jewkes), 93 of Halls Harbour  passed away October 7, 2018. Born in Springhill, June 1, 1925, she was the last surviving child of the late James Herbert and Sarah Maude Ann (Moore) Jewkes. Though her body failed, her mind remained sharp right to the end. She wanted to pass at home with people who loved her. Her final wish was fulfilled, she passed peacefully in her own bed.

She joined the army at the tender age of 16, where she was very proud to have served her country during WWII, here she worked as a teletype operator, stationed in Halifax and Ontario. A great believer in the value of education, she went to St Pat's High School at the age of 45, to get her High School Diploma. She joined the workforce late in life, taking a position at Cornwallis Dairy in Kentville at the age of 55, loving her work and making lifelong friends. Ruth was also a longtime supporter of the Liberal party, serving as secretary/treasurer for many years for the Kings North Liberal Ladies Association and Treasurer for the Kings North Liberals.

She was a woman of deep and abiding faith and humour. As well as many loves and talents, not the least of which, was her storytelling ability; full of humour and love, they were enjoyed by many over the years and will be missed. She loved good music, be it Beethoven and Bach, or Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, ABBA or the B52’s.  She also loved to sing and play the piano.

Ruth was a huge ELVIS fan, so much so that she was featured on the Frank Cameron Show which was part of the CBC supper hour news in the late 80’s early 90’s. Despite a fear of flying she made multiple trips to Graceland, often accompanied by her sister, as well as trips to Niagara Falls for an annual Celebration of Elvis’s Birthday. She collected anything Elvis.  Ruth also collected china dolls, Teddy bears, plates, Religious statues (Pope John Paul II and the Blessed Virgin – her favorites), collector plates, nutcrackers, and ballerina dolls.

Ruth was a woman before her time and was the first person in Kentville to have a VCR, one of many over the years, providing her and her grandchildren endless hours of enjoyment watching Smurfs, Grinch, Elvis, and every spooky movie ever created. She loved the ballet and the T.V. show, “Dancing with the Stars”.

Ruth lived in Kentville for more than 40 years until moving to Hall’s Harbour in 2013 to be even closer to her youngest daughter. Her final years were spent enjoying the birds, squirrels, chipmunks and the occasional Feral Kitten that came to her veranda for the food she insisted be available at all times. She enjoyed listening to books on tape (provided for her by her caregivers and the local library), watching the Catholic channel and CNN and spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her much loved nephew Bruce and friends.

She was a good friend and neighbor; who gave generously to many causes, especially the Grey Nuns and SPCA.

Ruth is survived by children Michael “Mickey”; Theresa; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren;  one great great-grandchild; nieces, nephews and many friends.

Besides her parents and all her siblings, Ruth was predeceased by her loving husband, Michael James Ellsworth; daughters Ruth “Ningie” and Catherine “Cathy”.

After the death of her husband in 1964, Ruth was left to raise two teenagers, a preteen and an infant on her own, this was a huge factor in who she was.

Her legacy is the constant love of learning, of finding true joy in the beauty of the English language as written in a book you lose yourself in, and the happiness found in a sweet baby's smile.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, NS (902-679-2822).