RUTH TENNANT LEE (nee GARDNER) passed away peacefully with family by her side on Friday, September 8th. Ruth was the loving and devoted wife of David (deceased) for 60 years. Cherished mother of Daniel (Teresa Wasiak-Lee (both deceased)); Sarah (Cameron Belsher); Stephen (partner Nancy Reinhart); and Deborah (Kevin Eldridge). Beloved grandmother of Kristen and Shane Belsher; Duncan, Adam and Robyn Eldridge; and Clare Adamcik (David). She was an adored sister of Helen Bryans and James Gardner (deceased), cousin, aunt and great-aunt, and a loyal and valued friend to many.
Ruth was born on June 10, 1932, raised in Hamilton and moved to Dundas when she married David in 1958. A graduate of McMaster University (Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, 1954), Ruth’s proudest achievement was being selected as Head Girl (Women’s Student Body President) for her final year. Ruth was a natural teacher who both lived and loved to help others. She worked as a math teacher at Hill Park Secondary in Hamilton and later worked as a legal secretary at Lee & Lee Law Office.
Ruth was accomplished and passionate about all her interests whether it was knitting, sewing, playing the piano or designing and creating hand-made greeting cards.
Ruth had a strong Christian faith which was the center of her life. She was actively involved at St. Mark’s United Church in Dundas for over 60 years, and co-founded the original St. Mark’s Co-Op Preschool. A large part of Ruth’s legacy was founding the St. Mark’s handbell choir which she first directed and then rang in right up until her passing.
Ruth was an extraordinary mother and showed by example how to treat others with love, kindness and sincerity. She hoped to leave the world a better place and she did.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Hamilton General Hospital Stroke Rehab Centre for their outstanding compassion, care and unending patience. They also wish to thank Dr. Shankardass for his wise medical advice, and friendship of the family, for over 40 years.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Mark’s United Church (now known as Highland Hills Faith Community) , 1 Lynndale Drive, Dundas on Saturday, October 14th at 2pm, followed by a reception. Visitation will take place at the same location on Friday, October 13th from 7-9 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ruth may be made to the Bell Fund at St. Mark’s United Church, 1 Lynndale Drive, Dundas, Ontario L9H 3L4 or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Rest peacefully, Ruth. Your journey brought joy and comfort to all of us who met you along the way.
Deepest sympathies over the passing of a lovely person. Ruth and Dave taught my late wife and myself how to play Scrabble at their first home in Dundas.
May she rest in peace.
To Ruth’s family. I knew Ruth and David for many years and was blessed by their friendship. Rest In Peace my friend.
It’s always been difficult to put feelings into words, at least for me. Ruth Lee (nee Gardner) and the Davidsons/Snidermans go back a long ways –– to high school days to be exact! Memories flood around us, perhaps due to my currently being in the middle of writing my own memoirs and not so very long ago contributing to remembrances of both David and Ruth centering around David’s life and eventual all too early death. Golf loomed large and brought us closer together, as did music and many common interests. For the first time in my life I actually listened to ragtime at the Dundas soirees, thanks to the invitations of Ruth and David. It was so kind of Ruth to have me contribute to David’s written memories and tributes – Miriam and I admired him and we enjoyed his company so much. It wasn’t always joyful as life never is, but I like to think that I helped ease the pain of Sarah’s illness as the Davidsons and Lees suffered through the experiences in Boston. The coincidence of Ruth’s family name with the “Brahmans” of Boston, the Cabot’s, the Lodges, the Kennedys and if course the GARDNERS sprang to my memory as I outlined the Davidson years in Boston where I studied medicine as described in my own memoirs. Perhaps my insistence that Ruth spend some relief time in Boston at our favorite Art Museum, the Isabella Stuart GARDNER, helped get them through Sarah’s experimental and often hazardous treatments. I won’t ever forget the nearly every day phone calls from Ruth as she told me about the events of the days at what is now the Dana-Farber Institute for childhood cancer research. So many memories of Ruth for us to cherish. May she rest in peace.
To the Lee family,
My condolences on the loss of your beloved mother and grandmother.
I cherish the memory of knowing your family as memebers of the Cedar
Springs Community.
David and Ruth made use of the talents they were given, a beautiful
life well lived. RIP.
With deepest sympathy, Sara Lawrence
We spent many long years at St. marks together both being so interested in the music program . Also as friends going through the sadness of dementia and able to express our feelings to each other. You will be missed . Rest in peace 🌸
my heartfelt sympathy to the family in the loss of your love one. I cherish the memory of knowing Ruth, as a friend. Rest in peace Ruth, you are greatly missed by many. Prayers an thoughts to the family.
Condolence to the family in the loss of your loved one. Prayers and thoughts .
Will certainly miss our little visits especially while you were awaiting your ride. You kept yourself so active with daily walking. Always loved seeing your smiling face. Condolences to your family.
It is hard to imagine life without Ruth. She made an impression on everyone who met her. She was so talented, so classy! Her family and all will miss her dearly. God Bless.
Ruth tutored me in math when I was at DDHS. She was a very dear friend to my mother Ruth Snider, and spoke at her funeral in 2010. The 2 of them were members of a group of 5 women who got together regularly to discuss the trials and tribulations of raising their families. They were also members of another group of 5 women who were interested in writing their autobiographies.
Condolences to all the family.