Mrs. Ruth Bernice Thompson Schaefer

      Mrs. Ruth Bernice Schaefer was known as many things to many people. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a true and caring friend to so many of her curling and golf buddies and particularly to her very special "Bosom Buddies". Ruth was a special care-giver, driver, cook and babysitter to so many individuals and family members of individuals suffering from cancer. She was someone special, their "Angel". To family and friends who knew her best, Ruth will be remembered as a remarkably giving and caring individual.

Ruth was born on September 21, 1934 at Summerberry, Saskatchewan but grew up and spent her entire life in Vernon, British Columbia. She was the daughter of Henry and Doris Thompson and was raised with four sisters. Joan, Margaret, Grace and Jean. Ruth was usually involved in all sorts of activities with her siblings. She was particularly close with her mother, Doris, and her sisters, Joan and Marg.

As a young girl, Ruth had a number of interests. She was an active child who took part in most sports and was known by most of her old Vernon classmates as something of a sportswoman. As a young adult she was very active with softball and volleyball and in her later years her sporting interests took her to curling and golf. However, to Ruth, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending time with her many friends.

On October 26th, 1951, Ruth exchanged wedding vows with Ronald Anton Schaefer at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Vernon, British Columbia. Ruth was immediately drawn in as a member to the large Schaefer family in Kelowna. The early years were spent enjoying Sunday dinners with the new in-laws, Frank and Bea, and her many brothers and sisters-in-law, including Irene, Madeline, Doreen, Bernadette, Terry, Les, Al, Frank, Martin and Dennis.

Ruth worked hard to be a good mother to her children. She was blessed with 5 children: one daughter, Debbie and four sons, Don, David, Terry and Rob. She was a loving grandmother to her thirteen grandchildren, Jody, Jamie, Joel, Anthony, Leah, Stephanie, Kyle, Amy, Curtis, Jordan, Krista, Payton and Tighe. As a cancer survivor, she was very proud to have lived to see the birth of three great-grandchildren, Tyler, Avery and Emma.

When Hap was involved with the local Junior Hockey team, Ruth was a surrogate mother to the many hockey players who lived with her family over the years. As one might expect with a large family, the Schaefer household was also a welcome second home to the many friends of Debbie and the boys. Ruth was special and went out of her way to make everyone feel at home. She enjoyed her leisure time by spending most summers at the lake with the Hutts and the Ansley's. Her favorite social pursuits were golfing and curling with her "ladies".

Throughout her life, Ruth was a doer and was always actively involved in her community. In 1981 Ruth was diagnosed with breast cancer. While to some this might have seemed like the end of the world, to Ruth, always a fighter, it became her own personal crusade; firstly, to beat the cancer, and secondly, to help others diagnosed with cancer. For the next 8 years she worked as a tireless volunteer at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Chemotherapy Clinic held weekly in Vernon, She became a tower of strength and comfort for many women devastated by the news that they have breast cancer and must undergo surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She acted as a loving mother, older sister, driver, cook, babysitter and above all, morale booster, for so very many women and their families.

In 1989 she was instrumental in founding the local breast cancer support group known as the "Bosom Buddies". This group of her "special" women and their families became the focus of much of Ruth's energy and passion for the remainder of her life. She helped organize the group to provide, support, counseling, and devoted care to so many breast cancer victims and their families. In 1992, with the Bosom Buddies, she organized the first "Walk for the Cure" campaign and for many years thereafter. Though she never set out to gain individual recognition, Ruth was given accolades for her many and varied accomplishments with this cancer support group, For this work she was nominated by her fellow Bosom Buddies, the medical staff and nurses, the many support workers and most ardently by the Cancer victims and their families, for the Vernon Good Citizen of the Year Award. which she received in 1993.

Ruth passed away on January 10th, 2009 at the Vernon Hospice House. She had fought a brave battle with cancer and had been a breast cancer survivor for twenty-eight years. Ruth is survived by her loving husband, "Hap", her daughter Debbie and her four sons Don, David, Terry, and Rob. Services were held at Trinity United Church on Saturday, January 17th, 2009 at 11:00 AM.

Simply stated, Ruth was a good and kind person; an individual who will for all time be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Ruth leaves behind her legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life she touched will always remember Ruth Schaefer.