Mrs. Ruth Katherine Holland (nee Hillman), age 74 years, a long time resident of Sunshine, Ontario, passed away peacefully after a 15 year battle with cancer, on Monday, May 11, 2015 in Thunder Bay Regional Hospital.
If you are reading this I am already forever with my beloved Lord & Saviour.
I was born at the Red Cross Depot in Kakabeka Falls, Ontario on June 16, 1940 to Fred & Eva Hillman. We resided in Nolalu for a year and a half when my family moved to Port Arthur. On my fifth birthday we moved to Sunshine, Ontario where I have lived ever since. I attended a one room school house in Sunshine until grade 8 and graduated to Hillcrest High School where I stayed until my grade 12 year. I decided to take a job at Alfred Petrone’s law firm where I worked for the next 14 years. I made many dear friends and we have shared a lot of good times over the years.
I met my husband, Ralph, on June 6, 1955, started dating on Thanksgiving of the same year and lovingly married on September 20, 1963. We have been married for over 51 years and have two wonderful children, CR and Buddy. We were blessed with four grandchildren and always enjoyed the time spent together.
My passions include travelling, cross-country skiing and camping with family and friends. As well as many late nights of card playing. I have always loved to play music & sing, especially when those songs portrayed the wonder of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
I pursued my love of music by joining the Emmanuel Gospel Group in 1991 and a few years later by forming a country/western band called “The Wannabees” with my husband Ralph, Audrie Duce and George Davis. We all shared our love and passion for music at some 24 different old age homes and various other venues throughout the Province of Ontario and the USA.
We were joined by such wonderfully, talented musicians as Walter Sitch, Vince Lofts, Rob Dorwaniuk and most recently Lois Lofts.
I am survived by my loving husband Ralph Holland, our two wonderful children CR Holland (Leo) and Buddy Holland (Heidi), our four grandchildren Alicia, Trent, Karson and Chayse; my two sisters Irene Nason (Len), and May Silen (Mel); brothers-in law and sisters-in-law Bob & Reba Foreman, Fran & Ruth-Ann Holland, Dale & Mary K Holland as well as many nieces, nephews & dear friends here in Canada and in Finland.
I am predeceased by my parents Fred & Eva Hillman, Ralph’s parents Frank & Margarite Holland, my brother-in-law Don Silen and numerous aunts and uncles, family and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Friday May 15, 2015 at 11:00am in the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Kakabeka Falls, Ontario with Pastor Gary Heinz presiding. Interment will occur at Conmee Cemetery & a reception for family & friends will be held at the Conmee Community Center, 19 Holland Road W. following the service. Visitation will take place on Thursday evening from 6:00pm – 8:00pm in the WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street, Thunder Bay.
Should friends so desire, memorial donations made to a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.
