Peacefully, in her home of 52 years, Ruth Idella Keil took her last breath. She lived a long and rich life of 95 years. Loving sister of June More (Hamilton) and Helen Fenton (St. Catharines) and precious aunt of Elaine Munro (London, her caregiver of 4 years), Joan Krysko (Hamilton), Greg Krysko (Yellowknife) and Steve Krysko (Nolalu).
Ruthie was an original who loved to laugh and dress up for seasonal events… such as disguising as the Easter Bunny for local parades. (By the way, whoever borrowed that costume can now return it without paying any late dues!).
She learned her craft of sewing and knitting from her grandmother, Emma, and she carried that torch for her family and “family-by- choice”, London Teen Girls Home where she thrived as “house mother” for twenty years. We estimate that she was able to knit over 100 fair-isle sweaters for residents and staff. Ruthie also loved making hats and wearing them. She stitched hundreds of elf hats for family, colleagues, and neighbours. She continued the tradition to the most recent Christmas and had been making plans for more.
She had a reputation for her later-acquired driver’s license. Her convertible country drives were always an adventure… getting lost was her way of taking the “scenic route”!
We will dearly miss her quirky Kazoo versions of “Happy Birthday” or “Hurray, Hurray, it’s the first of May”, but we hope family and friends will continue the tradition.
She was a bundle of love and light and we will hold her dearly in our hearts forever.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth’s memory may be made to Ark Aid Mission or My Sister’s Place.
Reader Interactions
Condolence Messages
Fern Hillsays
Ruth was a very dear friend for over seventy years. While her kazoo has been silenced, her fun loving spirit will remain forever in our memory.
Theresa Feniksays
Dearest Elaine, June, and all the family & friends of Ruthie,
It was a privilege and pleasure to know Ruthie since 1964
when the Fenik family moved onto Metamora Crescent
and met Mrs. Keil, whom we called Mrs. Santa for a long time!
The Keil’s Haunted House at Hallowe’en was legendary!
Ruthie let me drive that convertible in Springbank Park when I was 11!
She taught me to sew on the Singer machine and drink pots of tea and let me dust her house for cookies and rice krispie squares.
Ruthie was always thinking of others. Ruthie would take me to help out at the Christmas Fair at London’s Psychiatric Hospital and then later, to help at the Teen Girl’s Home pop booth for Home County Folk Festival. She loved shopping for gifts for everyone and going to Shipshewana, Indiana to the world’s largest flea market! Soooo many memories!
I know Ruthie is having a wonderful time in Heaven,
playing the “gut bucket” and reminiscing with friends & family who have gone before. Ruthie will be sorely missed. She touched many lives and accomplished her life. May she rest in peace and dance in joy!
God Bless you all.
Joan Nicklessays
I was a volunteer visitor with VON when I met Ruthie eleven years ago.
Visiting with her was never dull. I learned about her life, her childhood years, her teen years, her years working at Kingmills and the years she worked at Teen Girl’s Home. There were stories about the two convertible she owned and the little pranks she played.
But conversations were never just about her. She always wanted to know what was going on in my life too.
I soon learned that Ruthie was very special, a caring and fun loving person.
I will miss the kazoo playing Happy Birthday when I pick up the phone or sleigh bells ringing after a heavy snowfall.
Ruthie, I am truly honoured to have had you in my life.
Mikesays
I became a neighbour of Ruth’s almost 45 years ago. Their was a large 1960’s flashy Chevy convertible in the drive. She was very kind and would have Peter and my kids over for tea. In later years when Ruth’s mobility became an issue we were always welcome to pop in for a visit. She insisted we help ourselves to a Werther. She also kept me up to date on the Blue Jays. (baseball)! Will miss her. My condolences to Elaine and family.
Marg Forbessays
My deepest Sympathy to Elaine and her family. I have known Ruthie for quite a few years and especially the last 15 or so we had our weekly Sunday visits we would go out for breakfast or shopping (and she liked to shop) we also went on a few shunpiking trips and managed not to get lost probably because I was doing the driving . Later when she wasn’t as mobile it was home visits with coffee and a Blue Jay game if they were playing. I going to miss her very much may she rest in peace.
Wilma van Berkelsays
When we moved into the house next to Ruthie, with two very young children, it quickly became clear she was to become their neighbour grandma. How often she had them over for tea, cookies and some TV shows! The kids chatted with her on her door step stairs and in her backyard. Shoveled snow with her and filled birdfeeders. Gardener, and got to know Ruth’s other visitors and their visiting dogs. She many times surprised us with a pot of homemade chili so I didnt have to cook on a busy night! She was generous and kind (and stubborn too!!). Always full of mischief, but also interested in where school and life in general took our family, until her very last days. Leaving our neighbour when we moved to a different house definitely was hard! We loved her quirky personality and are so grateful that 4 years ago her niece moved in with her to take care when Ruth became much less mobile. Our heartfelt condolences to Ruth’s family, friends and neighbours.
Dr. Peter j Ainsworthsays
Ruth Kiel was a wonderful woman, kind, and caring, with a quirky sense of humour.
Ruth loved children, most evident by her life’s passion of work at the Teen Girl’s Home, as well as the delightful impromptu little parties she held for the neighbourhood children, including my own two daughters, (now in their late 30’s), in their pre teen days.
Ruth will be sorely missed by her local community.
Sharon Lalondesays
Ruth had an outlook on life that most of us will never experience. From the day I met her, and on our last visit together, she was the same happy person.
I was amazed at how she still remembered all the crazy things we did together in our 40-year friendship. Her wild hats were endless, and she never was embarrassed to wear them driving the 401 with the top down, honking at the truckers! Our shunpiking tours of the London area and beyond are some of my best memories I have of getting lost .
She was kind and caring; I am honoured to have known her.
I will miss our letters and phone calls, and I hope she is in a place that plays the “gut bucket ” and the Kazoo !!
See you on the other side, Ruthie
Sharon LaLonde
Wendysays
I had the utmost honour of working at Teen Girl’s Home with Ruthie for many years. The joy and caring she brought to each and everyone is unmatched. I am so sorry for your loss and to all that knew Ruthie. Her passing is felt far and wide by many.
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We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Fern Hill says
Ruth was a very dear friend for over seventy years. While her kazoo has been silenced, her fun loving spirit will remain forever in our memory.
Theresa Fenik says
Dearest Elaine, June, and all the family & friends of Ruthie,
It was a privilege and pleasure to know Ruthie since 1964
when the Fenik family moved onto Metamora Crescent
and met Mrs. Keil, whom we called Mrs. Santa for a long time!
The Keil’s Haunted House at Hallowe’en was legendary!
Ruthie let me drive that convertible in Springbank Park when I was 11!
She taught me to sew on the Singer machine and drink pots of tea and let me dust her house for cookies and rice krispie squares.
Ruthie was always thinking of others. Ruthie would take me to help out at the Christmas Fair at London’s Psychiatric Hospital and then later, to help at the Teen Girl’s Home pop booth for Home County Folk Festival. She loved shopping for gifts for everyone and going to Shipshewana, Indiana to the world’s largest flea market! Soooo many memories!
I know Ruthie is having a wonderful time in Heaven,
playing the “gut bucket” and reminiscing with friends & family who have gone before. Ruthie will be sorely missed. She touched many lives and accomplished her life. May she rest in peace and dance in joy!
God Bless you all.
Joan Nickles says
I was a volunteer visitor with VON when I met Ruthie eleven years ago.
Visiting with her was never dull. I learned about her life, her childhood years, her teen years, her years working at Kingmills and the years she worked at Teen Girl’s Home. There were stories about the two convertible she owned and the little pranks she played.
But conversations were never just about her. She always wanted to know what was going on in my life too.
I soon learned that Ruthie was very special, a caring and fun loving person.
I will miss the kazoo playing Happy Birthday when I pick up the phone or sleigh bells ringing after a heavy snowfall.
Ruthie, I am truly honoured to have had you in my life.
Mike says
I became a neighbour of Ruth’s almost 45 years ago. Their was a large 1960’s flashy Chevy convertible in the drive. She was very kind and would have Peter and my kids over for tea. In later years when Ruth’s mobility became an issue we were always welcome to pop in for a visit. She insisted we help ourselves to a Werther. She also kept me up to date on the Blue Jays. (baseball)! Will miss her. My condolences to Elaine and family.
Marg Forbes says
My deepest Sympathy to Elaine and her family. I have known Ruthie for quite a few years and especially the last 15 or so we had our weekly Sunday visits we would go out for breakfast or shopping (and she liked to shop) we also went on a few shunpiking trips and managed not to get lost probably because I was doing the driving . Later when she wasn’t as mobile it was home visits with coffee and a Blue Jay game if they were playing. I going to miss her very much may she rest in peace.
Wilma van Berkel says
When we moved into the house next to Ruthie, with two very young children, it quickly became clear she was to become their neighbour grandma. How often she had them over for tea, cookies and some TV shows! The kids chatted with her on her door step stairs and in her backyard. Shoveled snow with her and filled birdfeeders. Gardener, and got to know Ruth’s other visitors and their visiting dogs. She many times surprised us with a pot of homemade chili so I didnt have to cook on a busy night! She was generous and kind (and stubborn too!!). Always full of mischief, but also interested in where school and life in general took our family, until her very last days. Leaving our neighbour when we moved to a different house definitely was hard! We loved her quirky personality and are so grateful that 4 years ago her niece moved in with her to take care when Ruth became much less mobile. Our heartfelt condolences to Ruth’s family, friends and neighbours.
Dr. Peter j Ainsworth says
Ruth Kiel was a wonderful woman, kind, and caring, with a quirky sense of humour.
Ruth loved children, most evident by her life’s passion of work at the Teen Girl’s Home, as well as the delightful impromptu little parties she held for the neighbourhood children, including my own two daughters, (now in their late 30’s), in their pre teen days.
Ruth will be sorely missed by her local community.
Sharon Lalonde says
Ruth had an outlook on life that most of us will never experience. From the day I met her, and on our last visit together, she was the same happy person.
I was amazed at how she still remembered all the crazy things we did together in our 40-year friendship. Her wild hats were endless, and she never was embarrassed to wear them driving the 401 with the top down, honking at the truckers! Our shunpiking tours of the London area and beyond are some of my best memories I have of getting lost .
She was kind and caring; I am honoured to have known her.
I will miss our letters and phone calls, and I hope she is in a place that plays the “gut bucket ” and the Kazoo !!
See you on the other side, Ruthie
Sharon LaLonde
Wendy says
I had the utmost honour of working at Teen Girl’s Home with Ruthie for many years. The joy and caring she brought to each and everyone is unmatched. I am so sorry for your loss and to all that knew Ruthie. Her passing is felt far and wide by many.