Obituary of Ruth Lever

Ruth Lever nee Lehan January 29, 1928 – April 10, 2016 The first thing to know about Ruth is that she was a happy person. She delighted in the world around her; her family, her friends, the many people she met through her church St. Peter’s, the Girl Guide movement, and lately in the caregivers in her life. She maintained a lively informed interest in current events and was a loyal Maple Leaf fan and an enthusiastic Jays fan. She loved the outdoors. Her profile picture here, shows her in her element; reading a book by a campfire in the woods beside a river. She had more to struggle with than some people as she had a challenging form of arthritis that could limit her sometimes. But in spite of this or because of it, she was determined to live life fully and gratefully. We will miss her of course. But we must remember that Mum was compassionate and present in her dealings with people and so will always be close at hand in spirit. Mum’s ashes are in a vessel made of pressed wild flowers. We have surrounded her in something from nature. Mum loved nature and now there will be a long slow journey through which she will nourish the earth and become life again. We are the stuff of stars. All of us live forever in one form or another, thus the importance of kindness. Mum was kind. Mum was life. Mum will live forever in our hearts. Ruth was born in Timmins, Ontario where her father was a bookkeeper for the Hollinger Mines Company store. She was the first child of Frederick Lehan and Jean Dutôt. Frederick was born in Greenwich, Kent County, England and came to Canada in 1908. Jean was born and raised on a farm in Comber, Essex County, Ontario, and moved to Toronto in 1917. In 1929 when Ruth was just over one year old Fred and Jean moved back to Toronto and settled in the east end, north of Kingston Road. Ruth’s brother Donald was born that fall. Ruth and Donald attended Adam Beck Public School and then Ruth attended Malvern C.I. In 1942, when Ruth was 14, she was proud to become a capable big sister to Mary Frances. From the age of 8 her closest friend was Norma Delafraniere; a friendship that has continued to this day. Norma told me that Ruth met Norma when they began in the same class in grade 4. Mum noticed Norma and thought she would be a good friend to have. She told her mother that and Jean knew Norma’s mother so she called her and Ruth went to call on Norma to go to school together. Norma said they yacked all the way to school and never stopped since. When they were together they talked and talked and laughed. Mum told countless stories about her childhood and her affection for her mother, father, brother and sister and her group of friends. The family had many happy times even though they were, like everyone, struggling through the Depression Era of the 1930s. Canoe and camping trips were taken along the shore of Lake Ontario from Balmy Beach to the Scarborough Bluffs and they camped or picnicked at the foot of Morningside Drive. Part of each summer was spent at her maternal aunts’ farms near Kingsville and Comber in Essex, County. These were treasured times with her cousins and the source of many stories. In her adolescence she worked occasionally at Tyrell’s Bookstore near Yonge and Bloor. Both her parents had worked there and Ruth obtained job putting prices on greeting cards. At Malvern Collegiate she was on the yearbook staff. After high school Ruth worked for an insurance company. At 18 she became ill with severe pain in her spine and hips. This was not diagnosed for a number of years, but was found to be a relatively rare form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis. Living with this was the challenge of Mum’s life. One day in 1946 Mum was on her way home, walking along Scarborough Road and noticed a house decked in a union jack and a welcome home sign. She said she felt a surge of joy at the sight. Of course everyone was glad that WWII was over and the boys were coming home. She did not know it at the time but the house was #304, and it was the home of Cyril David Lever. That May she met Cy at an AYPA (Anglican Young Peoples’ Association) dance. The dance was called a “Paul Jones”. This was done by the dancers forming two circles, one made up of men the other of women. One circle inside the other, the dancers faced, and then moved in opposite directions. When the music stopped they would dance with whoever was in front of them. Mum ended up matched with Dad three times. Later she learned that Cy had maneuvered his position in the circle so this would happen. Four years later they married on May 13, 1950. Sadly in 1948, Cy’s mother and Ruth’s father both died. Their support of each other through this time helped build the strong foundation of their relationship. Ruth and Cy built their life modestly. Ruth worked until their first child Stephanie arrived in 1952. Garth was born in 1956. In 1954 they purchased a newly built bungalow on Brimley Road and spent their lives together there. Their community revolved around the life of St. Peter’s Anglican Church. Ruth was on the Chancel Guild, a leader in the Girl Guide Company that met there, and in the Choir. Many in the congregation were among their close friends. Ruth was fulfilled in sharing her love of nature with the girls in the 429th Girl Guide Company. She was a lieutenant to begin with and later she was Captain. She organized hikes to parks, and camping trips to Camp Cedarbrae where the Guides learned the skills needed for outdoor living. She was ably assisted by her friends Margaret Owen and Dorothy Pocock as lieutenants. Later she served as District Commissioner, Badge Secretary and Camp Cedarbrae treasurer. One of Mum’s greatest pleasures was a good book. She attended the book club at the Bendale Library right up until last fall, travelling by Wheeltrans to get there. Her favourite authors were: Margaret Laurence, Thomas Hardy, Robertson Davies and lately, indigenous author Thomas King. As their life became more comfortable and her children grew up, Ruth and Cy were able to regularly attended concerts of the TSO at Roy Thompson Hall. They enjoyed theatre at the Shaw and Stratford Festivals with their good friends, Norma and Colin Jones and Dorothy and George Pocock. They took trips around Ontario especially loving the north of Ontario. They went out to B.C. to visit her sister Mary, and to marvel at the mountains. There were two trips to England and Wales where they both explored the land of their ancestors. The Isle of Jersey was next on their list but sadly Cy’s health declined and this was not possible Cyril was a long time cast member in Gilbert and Sullivan productions of the St. Peter’s Choral Society and though Ruth could not manage the physical rigours of these, she was happy to be hostess for a cast party held at their home for many years. Many of the cast became Ruth and Cy’s friends. Through the 1980’s Ruth and Cy were delighted to be come grandparents and revelled in the growth and achievements of their five grandchildren. They were always on hand to babysit and to attend hockey and t-ball games, gymnastics and swimming lessons and school concerts. Every long weekend was an occasion for backyard get-togethers among the cousins. In the late 1990’s Cy developed dementia and Ruth was stalwart in her care of him as far as she was able. He died in 2003 and Ruth remained in the Brimley Road home and continued in her participation at St. Peter’s and in the book club. She worked on her beloved garden, especially in the patch of iris that had been taken from her mother’s garden. It was just about to be the way she wanted I, when in May of 2009 she had a fall and a serious injury and that year the garden bloomed without her. Though she returned home from rehab for a short time, she was no longer able to stay in her home and the house was sold in 2010. She moved into a seniors’ residence in Guildwood Village (Livingston Lodge, later Chartwell Guildwood). She continued to be as independent as was her nature, going for walks, using the plaza across the road and still attending the book club at Bendale Library. She was able to help tend the garden there, having kept her secateurs. True to form she developed some heartfelt friendships with residents, staff and caregivers. We thank the staff of Chartwell Guildwood for their compassionate and responsive help with Ruth‘s care over these past years, and especially these last few months. Since 2009 she has seen the arrival of six great-grandchildren and again found delight in them. Ruth entered the hospital in March with problems arising from COPD. She made it to rehab at Providence Health Centre and worked to become mobile again but ultimately she could not sustain the strength she needed and died peacefully on Sunday April 10th at 8:00 in the evening. We are bereft but resigned to our loss, knowing that she is now at peace and out of pain and struggle. Ruth Lever (nee Lehan) Jan. 29, 1928-April 10, 2016 Grateful for her life and that she is at peace, are her children: Stephanie Ann (Neil Stewart) and Garth David (Fran Watson) and her grandchildren: David Stewart, Paul Stewart, Michael Lever, Victoria Oswald and Pamela Archibald. She delighted in her great-grandchildren: Jacob and Cassandra Archibald, Lilyana Lever, Dexter and Violet Oswald and Emily Stewart. She is survived by her sister Mary Frances Anderson (David) and nieces Erin Hack, Tracy Anderson, and Nicole Anderson -Walton and their families. Predeceased by her brother Donald she leaves her sister-in-law Edwina Lehan (nee Shephard) and her nephews Tim, Jeffrey and Kevin Lehan. A Memorial Service for Ruth will celebrated on Monday, April 25th, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Anglican Church (776 Brimley Road, Scarborough), followed by refreshments in the parish hall. Interment will then take place at St. John's Norway Cemetery (Kingston & Woodbine). We invite you to share in your memories, photos and condolences for her here at her Memorial Webpage. Your participation in creating her legacy is greatly appreciated. Uniquely entrusted to eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc. Life Celebrations. Done Differently.