FLEET, RUBY JEAN In Memory 1927 – 2018 Ruby Jean (Foster) Fleet passed away peacefully with family members at her side, on July 21, 2018, in her 91st year while residing at Chartwell Woodhaven Long Term Care Residence in Markham, ON.
Ruby was born on July 13, 1927 in Bloomfield, NS, the daughter of Hantford and Effie (Marr) Foster. Ruby attended North Range public school and upon graduation attended The Sister’s Secretarial School in Digby. Upon graduation, employment opportunities took her to St. John, NB where she met her to be husband Herb Fleet. They were married in the winter of 1951 in Ruby’s parents’ home in Bloomfield, NS and shared a full and happy married life together until his death in June 2003. For a number of years Herb’s work in the steamship business saw Ruby and Herb alternating residence between Montreal, QC, when the seaway was ice free and St. John, NB during seaway ‘iceup’ months. Ultimately the couple took up permanent residence in Montreal in 1952 where they remained until they, in retirement moved back to St. John in 1997. During the time in Montreal Ruby enjoyed many years working in senior secretarial roles with Bank of Montreal and latterly Aerotech Aviation until her failing eyesight led to her early retirement.
Ruby, alongside her husband Herb, were always active members of the Churches where they resided. In Montreal Calumet Baptist Church, Crawford Park United and for many years Lakeside Heights Baptist in Pointe Claire, QC where they developed many close and lasting friendships and latterly in St. John where they became members at Lancaster Baptist and adherents at St. Mark’s United. Ruby and her husband enjoyed many years of travel in Europe and other areas of the world and were particularly fond of cruising. Ruby is survived by nephew Reid (Heather) Andrews and their two children Michael (Lorie) Andrews and Tracy (Doug) Smith, nephew Robert (Barb) Andrews and children Harris Andrews, Darcie (Matthew) Sherrick, Reginald Andrews, Matthew Freemantle, Lisa (Mark) Cruickshank and Ayla Kempton and niece Maxine (Ivan) Bain and her two daughters, Cheryl (Kevin) Orde and Melissa (Jamie) Land. Ruby was predeceased by her parents; brothers – Charley (Helen) Foster and Arthur (Ruby) Foster, sisters – Stella (Henry) Charte, Ethel (Harris Andrews) Shortliffe and Alice (Reginald Andrews) Innis.
A celebration of Ruby’s life will take place at Stouffville United Church, 34 Church St., Stouffville, ON, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 27, 2018. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honour of Ruby’s life to Stouffville United Church, 34 Church Street, Stouffville, ON L4A 1E3, or Chartwell Woodhaven Long Term Care Residence, 380 Church St., Markham, ON L6B 1E1. Later this summer interment of her cremated remains will take place, with a family graveside memorial service alongside her late husband at the Cedar Hill Extension Cemetery in St. John, NB.
The family wishes to publicly thank Dr. Chen, the nurses and care personnel at Chartwell Woodhaven, Markham for the kind and thoughtful care given to Ruby during her residential stay and especially over the past few weeks as her health so dramatically declined.