Ruth Pakenham Gillett

June 12, 1924 – April 21, 2022

After a life well lived, in her 98th year, the family announces Ruth’s peaceful passing on Thursday April 21st, 2022 in her home at Amica Bayview Village in Toronto, Ontario. Dear wife of Jack for 68 years. Loving mother of Martha, her husband Keith, Tom, his wife Bernie, and Jane (predeceased). Cherished “Grammy” to her four Pettit and six Gillett grandchildren and treasured “GG” to her eight great-grandchildren.

Ruth valued three things above all else in her life, her marriage to Jack, her family and friends, and her career as a high school history teacher, and she devoted most of her energy to each of these. When she became the family matriarch, she embraced that role too, with her customary gusto. Visiting and entertaining family and friends were so important to her and a regular occurrence in our lives. She was always happy to welcome more to her circle. Ruth extended to everyone a warm hospitality and much love.

Her favourite place to entertain was at The Lake, without doubt the spot she loved more than any other. At the end of the school year, much to Jack’s chagrin, boxes, suitcases, foodstuffs (enough to last a year), toys, games,and “everything but the kitchen sink” as he would comment, were piled into the car for the trip north. Once there, summers were an almost continuous round of family and friends and the days quickly fell into a routine of a large brunch in the morning (in the early days, cooked on the kitchen wood stove, even if it was 90 degrees outside), afternoon swims, happy hour at the dock, or over at the beach, a special dinner and then games in the evening (where you were expected to bring your competitive spirit). Afterward, there would be one of Ruth’s signature sweets - lemon squares, oatmeal crinkles, peanut butter bars, homemade butter tarts or any number of pies, prized for their light and flaky pastry.

In her spare time, Ruth, an avid needleworker, would knit, sew, and in later years, smock. She made any number of garments for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. No newborn was ever found lacking for a new pair of booties. She also loved to make jam and can the fruits of summer, where both children and grandchildren were pressed into service to learn the art of preserving.

Finally, her joy in teaching and her passion for history was always at the fore. Both Ruth and Jack shared this devotion and were given to much vigorous discussion on the topic between themselves, and among anyone who cared to listen. Ruth loved her students, she expected them to excel to the best of their ability and spent many long hours helping them whenever possible. She had an incredible memory for all kinds of dates, places and historical events filed away in her mind and ready to be presented at a moment’s notice. She taught for over three decades, many of those years at Northview Heights Collegiate and later at St. Clements School.

Ruth was also a great lover of poetry, and would often burst forth with some remembered poem, usually at the dinner table. On numerous occasions she also penned her own odes for birthday or anniversary celebrations. She was a strong willed and independent woman, a force of nature who had high expectations for herself and those around her. She was a perfectionist in all areas of her life, but she forgave others their imperfections without a moment’s hesitation. We shall miss her, but do not doubt that she is keeping watch with her beloved Jack at her side.

Visitation will be held on Thursday May12, 2022 between 5 and 8 pm at the Kane-Jerrett Funeral Home (8088 Yonge St., Thornhill, ON). A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday May 13, 2022 at 11:00 am at St. Gabriel's Passionist Parish (670 Sheppard Ave. E.). In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to the following: L’Arche Canada, Canadian Red Cross, or the Canadian Cancer Society. Condolences may be made at www.dignitymemorial.com