In writing this obituary for our beloved sister Ruth, we realize that an obituary serves the purpose of anyone not knowing the deceased a glimpse of who they were.

We say this because those that loved Ruth knew who she was.  As her siblings, she was our rock. To Malcolm, she was a little sister— who, as the big brother, he protected, advised, and at times, good-naturedly gave a hard time to. To Rhonda, that's easy - she was her mirror twin in every sense of the word. Identical in looks and yet opposites in so many traits. Ruth always loved pointing out that she was the oldest, though, by close to five minutes.  To Jennifer, she was the includer - when our mother had three children under the age of three, Ruth always ensured to include her in everything she did, both in their youth and adult life. To Leanne, as 'the baby' of the family, she was like a second Mom to her. She had natural mothering instincts with her calm and nurturing ways.

Life is about choices. You learn a lot about a person by the choices they make for themselves. Ruth chose to make choices that led to the life she wanted to create for herself.

Her greatest accomplishment in life was when she chose to become a mother to Zachery. She loved him from the moment she laid eyes on him to the moment she closed her eyes for the last time.

She also chose to be a second Mom to her chosen daughter, Oliffie (Sasha). Her love always brought Ruth endless joy. Ruth's hope was - that it did the same for her.

Family was the most important thing to her. A value instilled in her by our parents. Second to that was her love for teaching. Being chosen as the 2024 recipient of the Award for Teaching Excellence from the Nunavut Teacher's Association, may have shown others how much teaching meant to her.

But for those that knew her, her devotion was seen by something different. After graduating from Nova Scotia Teachers College in Truro and completing her Bachelor of Education from Saint Mary's University in Halifax, she answered an ad in a local paper advertising teaching positions in the Arctic. She called the number, and after a successful telephone interview the next day, she was hired. Within the month, she was on a flight to take her new position at Kullik Illihavik in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. While her positions within the school may have changed from teacher to Vice Principal to Principal. Her commitment to the students she taught for 35 years did not.

Speaking of commitment, Ruth was equally committed to her communities. She was blessed to be part of not one— but two. The first being Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, where she was born and raised. There she learned the attributes of being raised in a small rural village. A strong sense of community, loyalty to people, places, and traditions, resilience, and a strong work ethic. She was excited to come back to Tatamagouche to live out her retirement surrounded by her family in the home she lovingly restored. Passing just one year into that retirement just doesn't seem fair.

The second, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. While initially going for an employment opportunity, she found her second home. The Inuit chose to accept her as part of their community with as much love as she had for them.

After her children, the greatest takeaway from her time spent North was the friends she made there. But none more special to her than her best friend, Cathie, and Cathie's daughter, Becca. Cathie's friendship allowed for endless adventures together and was one she cherished, and being 'Auntie Ruth' to Becca was a blessing she never took for granted.

While her life was cut way too short by cancer. She chose to face her diagnosis with such strength and determination. Those of us who loved her are still in awe. Always an educator, may she teach us all how to live our lives. Goal-driven and never losing sight of achieving those goals. Putting as much into a day, doing the things you love, with the people you love.  Because you never know when one day will be your last…

Ruth was survived by her son, Zachery, Victoria, BC; her chosen daughter, Oliffie (Sasha), Evetalegak, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut; her siblings, Malcolm, Rhonda, Jennifer and Leanne, all of Tatamagouche; her beloved dogs, Bailey and Orrie (who was her retirement present to herself). They are missing her as much as we are.

She was predeceased by her parents, Ed and Jessie (Kirk) Roberts; her maternal grandparents, Roy and Ruth (Chambers) Kirk; her paternal grandparents, Arthur and Jessie (Strayhorn) Roberts.

In keeping with Ruth's love of children, anyone wanting to make a donation in her honour is encouraged to seek out children's organizations in your area. Help your local school's breakfast program, donate to a local children's sport club, theatre program; the choices are endless.

Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Coulter's Funeral Home in Tatamagouche. The Celebration of Life for Ruth Roberts will be held Saturday, June 27 from 1-3 p.m. at 37 Maple Ave., Tatamagouche.