Ruth Elizabeth Laslop

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ruth Elizabeth Laslop, who died on June 22, 2025, in Victoria, Canada, at the age of 84. Born August 12, 1940, in Sangudo, Alberta, Ruth was the beloved daughter of Andrew and Edith Graham and is predeceased by her husband Harry and her brother Robert Graham.

She was the matriarch of a large and loving family, survived by her four children (Stuart, Maria, William, and Keith) and their families. She also leaves behind her dear sister-in-law, Gloria, along with Gloria’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

A whiz at mathematics, she grew tired of her work as a Comptometer operator and enrolled in night courses at the University of Alberta in the early 1960s to tackle more exciting equations. But when her eldest, Stuart, came along, realizing that solving a newborn was more challenging than any calculus exam, she made a life-changing decision: to become the best stay-at-home mom ever. You aced it, Mom.

Though she never held a driver's license, Ruth was a transportation prodigy. She navigated the city's bus schedules with the precision of a seasoned cartographer and, when transit strikes hit, she became a pro at hitchhiking – a true Google Maps before her time.

Her wisdom, often dispensed over dinner, is legendary within the family. We were all raised under the sage guidance of her famous sayings, including the non-negotiable dinner rule, "take all you want, but eat all you take," and the ultimate threat to sibling squabbles, "Quit it or you'll get the wooden spoon."

She was our rock: the one to wake us for early morning sports, the constant comfort waiting after school, and the reassuring light left on when we stumbled in late at night, never with judgment, only with love. She never made us feel bad for us foolishly taking her for granted. Her kitchen was the heart of our home, renowned for its epic bolognese sauce and the cure-all comfort of her cheese rice and bacon.

A Funeral Service for Ruth will be held Friday, July 25, 2025 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at First Memorial Funeral Services, 1155 Fort Street, Victoria, BC V8V3K9.To view the service, please click here: https://funeraweb.tv/diffusions/113096. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests having a meal with your friends or family, in Ruth’s honor, and eating all you take. She’d like that.

In her own words, all she and Harry ever truly cared about was "world stability, good weather would be nice, good health and good luck. So far we have been very lucky."

Well, Mom, not as lucky as us to have had you as our mother. We love you.