Obituary of Ruth Nealis

The loving family of Ruth Roberta Nealis announce her peaceful passing at the York Care Centre in Fredericton, NB on April 2, 2017. She is resting in the arms of her beloved husband Leo (Dunc) Nealis. Ruth was born in Gravenhurst, Ontario on August 14, 1921, the youngest of six children of W. Small and Matilda (Robson) Small. As a young girl she studied piano at the Toronto Conservatory of Music. At the age of 21 she decided to follow her two older brothers and joined the armed forces. She trained in Ottawa and Montreal, graduating in 1943 as a ground wireless operator in the Royal Canadian Air Force. She was posted to Comox, BC where she met and fell in love with Dunc. They were married in 1946 in Stroud, ON and then returned to Fredericton, NB to start their family and life together. Ruth was a member of St. Paul’s United Church in Fredericton and raised Leta, Diane, Vincent, and Cheryl within this faith. She volunteered at many church and community events but her greatest love was volunteering with the Girl Guides of Canada. She spent 50+ years working her way up the ranks, as she called it, to become a Provincial Trainer of young girls and their leaders. In her senior years, she volunteered tirelessly at York Manor Nursing Home and so it became a natural transition for her to become a resident there in 2009. Ruth was predeceased by her parents, two brothers and three sisters, her husband Dunc, grandson Ted Hoyt, and nephew Brian Seaton. Ruth is remembered lovingly by daughters: Leta Culley (Dave), Diane (Doug May), Cheryl, and son Vincent (Liz Hansen). Grandchildren: Rochelle Belyea, Shyanne Culley (Jason Robichaud), Gena Hoyt (Aron Jones), Colin Nealis and Madeline Nealis. Great-grandchildren: Nathan and Kate Belyea, Ashton and Devon Robichaud as well as many nieces and nephews. The family extends its appreciation to the caring staff at the York Care Centre. Their professional treatment and sympathetic care made it the center of the family home. Visitation will take place at York Funeral Home’s T. Gordon MacLeod Memorial Chapel on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 from 2-3 pm; followed by a Funeral Service at 3 pm with Rev. Peter Thomas officiating. Interment will take place in Sunny Bank Cemetery at a later date. For those who wish, remembrances may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com