RUTH JOAN KOMISHON

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RUTH JOAN KOMISHON

(nee BLACK)

May 28, 1936 - March 11, 2024

Your life was a blessing,

your memory a treasure;

You are loved beyond words,

and missed beyond measure

Ruth Joan Komishon (nee Black) passed away peacefully alongside her family on March 11, 2024, at the age of 87.

She was predeceased by her parents, and siblings; Ernie, Ethel, Jack, Nancy, Nonie, Murray, and Chris. She is survived and greatly missed by Jim, her husband of 67 years, her children; Jim (Donna), Randy (Sandra), Glenn (Corrine), Kathy Komishon-Park (David), Kris Hammersley (Rob), and her ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Ruth was born in Winnipeg on May 28, 1936, the youngest of eight children to Henry and Mary Black (nee Low). After losing her mother at the tender age of seven, Ruth quickly developed a strong backbone and sense of determination, while living in a large, blended family on Atlantic Avenue. Her siblings, in particular her sisters, her childhood best friend Eileen and her “Mom” (Elsie Gelhorn), were fundamental to her early upbringing. Ruth spent her childhood attending Ralph Brown, Faraday, and Isaac Newton schools, and was active in the Christ Lutheran youth group. Ruth worked at Great West Life (GWL) in the mortgage department before she was married but her joy and passion was her role as a loving wife, mother, daughter-in-law, grandma, great-grandma and friend.

Ruth met Jim, the love of her life and best friend, in 1955 at a GWL Christmas party and they later married in 1957. Together they had five children; three boys initially and subsequently twin girls. Imagine the surprise on the couples face when unbeknown to them their family physician delivered twins.

As a family, Ruth and Jim would take their kids camping across Canada and later spent their summers at the family cabin at Belair, MB. With Jim travelling for work, Ruth found ways to keep her busy crew entertained, regularly hanging out with her sisters and their kids or neighbours. Early family days on Devon Avenue meant building lifelong friendships with the Edgars, Links, and Morrows, and wall to wall children running around the neighbourhood. Countless quantities of cookies, chocolate Wacky Cake, and jugs of Kool-Aid were mass produced over those years to feed the young and growing throng. Several years later, the family would move to Carriage Road in St. James, where they also developed many lasting friendships with their new neighbours.

Ruth was an exceptionally talented, self-taught knitter, crocheter, seamstress and baker, all while balancing a large busy household. She loved dogs, and for many years raised and bred Miniature Schnauzers and cherished the mentorship and friendship of Becky Hawley that developed during those years. After taking an interest in jewelry design, Ruth returned to high school alongside her youngest son Glenn to study Jewelry Arts. She became very proficient at designing and making custom jewelry pieces that are cherished by her family to this day. Ruth was also an avid sports fan, especially if it meant with family. She thoroughly enjoyed attending Winnipeg Blue Bombers family tailgates and her children’s or great-grandchildren’s activities. Ruth loved her friends. For over 60 years Ruth would rarely miss a chance to catch up with her girlfriends at Hen Club. In later years, Ruth and Jim travelled abroad extensively and loved spending their winters in Parksville, B.C. and their summers at their property in Silver Falls, MB.

Ruth was fiercely protective of her loved ones and wouldn’t back down to anyone if it meant doing the right thing. Short in stature but tall in Irish spirit, that was Ruth! If you were fortunate to have known her, you would never forget how selfless, loving, talented, resilient and determined she was. On so many levels, she will truly be missed.

The family would like to thank the staff in Unit 11 of the 3rd floor at the Seven Oaks Hospital for the compassionate care of Ruth, while she battled dementia in her final days and Dr. Nicolle Bristow, her primary care physician.

Cremation has already taken place. A memorial service will be held on Friday April 5, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. James Lutheran Church, 871 Cavalier Drive, Winnipeg. There will be a private family interment to follow at Chapel Lawn.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth’s memory would be gratefully received by the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba or the Winnipeg Humane Society.

Chapel Lawn Funeral Home

204-885-9715

Tribute Link: www.chapellawn.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 30, 2024, Mar 30, 2024