he family of Ruth Genevieve Auger (née Dufault) wishes to announce her peaceful passing on April 26, 2015 at the Bethammi Nursing Home in Thunder Bay.
Born in 1918 in Port Arthur, Ontario, Mom was the ninth of eleven children of Eustache and Catherine Dufault and she was their last surviving child. Mom was predeceased by her husband, Joseph William Auger in 1967, by her daughter Catherine in 2011, by her sons Patrick in 2013 and Donald in 2014. As well, Mom lost her first grandchild, Jacqueline Auger in 1966. Her daughter-in-law of 51 years, Marie Auger (Jacqueline’s mother) passed away in 2012.
Mom is survived by 4 children: David Auger (Susan Vigna) of St. Catharines, Ontario, Raymond Auger (Judy Seymour) of Wiarton, Ontario, Mary Lou Auger (Gerry Martin) of Thunder Bay, Ontario and Jean Auger-Crowe of Calgary, Alberta. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Mom spent her formative years in Port Arthur and attended Port Arthur schools including St. Patrick’s High School and then Port Arthur Collegiate before entering St. Joseph’s General Hospital School of Nursing in Port Arthur in 1936.
She talked often of her years in training and the delight she took in getting up to no good –stories all told with her contagious laugh! She graduated in 1939 and began a long career as a superb nurse. There is no question that this was a “calling” for her and she revelled in her work. After working for a period in Port Arthur at the Sanitorium, she and Dad moved their young family (David and Donald) to Geraldton in 1945.
Mom’s first job there was at the Little Longlac Hospital where she performed any and all tasks that a nurse in an isolated northern community could encounter --there wasn’t a hunting wound or a fishing accident or a delivery of a new baby that she couldn’t take charge of. Mom was the school nurse in Geraldton during the late 50’s and early 60’s and was very involved in the polio innoculation program.
She then became the Director of Nursing at the Geraldton District Hospital and oversaw the move to the new hospital in 1964. There was not a more striking woman in town than Mom in her crisp white uniform! In 1967, Mom decided that, as a Centennial Project, she would like to move back to the Port Arthur. St. Joseph’s Hospital was opening a new north wing and she was hired as the Head Nurse on 4 North, the post-surgical floor. Before retiring, she worked for a period in the St. Joseph’s Hospital pharmacy.
Over and above her family and her work, Mom made time to volunteer at the Altar Society at St. Teresa’s Roman Catholic Church in Geraldton as well as the Parent Teachers’ Association. Further, she was always available to help out a neighbor. She was, beyond doubt, a much-loved and revered fixture in the town of Geraldton.
Mom’s favorite pastimes included sitting on the veranda at our camp at Kenogamis Lake near Geraldton and later at our camp at Trout Lake outside of Thunder Bay enjoying a good book and a cold beer. She also loved to listen to her recordings while ironing or baking and especially at Christmas. We had the best Christmas baking on the planet! As well, she loved to play the piano and sing old favorites.
After a serious fall in 2006, Mom lived at Bethammi Nursing Home in Thunder Bay until her passing. The family will be forever grateful to the staff at Bethammi for the excellent care she received there.
Funeral services for the late Mrs. Ruth Genevieve Auger will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2015 with family and friends gathering in St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church for Funeral Mass at 10:00am celebrated by Fr. Antoni Fujarczuk. Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening from 6:00pm until 8:00pm in the Everest Funeral Chapel, 299 Waverley Street at Algoma with Vigil Prayers offered at 7:15pm in the chapel. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers donations made to The Joseph and Donald J. Auger Memorial Award of Merit c/o Lakehead University would be greatly appreciated.
