Ruth Henderson Keane Vansaarloos
August 22, 1934 – November 22, 2024
With great sadness, we announce that Ruth Henderson Keane Vansaarloos passed away peacefully at Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, at the age of 90.
Ruth was surrounded by her loved ones and will be lovingly remembered by her children: son David (Carol) Sadler of Calgary, AB; daughter Sandra (Scott) Lipsit of Prince Albert, SK; and daughter Debbie Sadler of Dawson Creek, BC. Ruth was a proud grandmother to James (Brittany), Daniel (Oliver), Connor (Mackenzie), and Jessica; Stephanie (Chang), Sarah, and Sean (Kyra); Travis (Kylee), Kristen (Evan), and a great-grandmother to Isla, Jun, Scarlett, Lyla, Rogan, and Aidan. Ruth is also the stepmother to Wilma (Bruce) of Barrie, ON, and Alice (Rob) of Winnipeg, MB, as well as a beloved aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.
Ruth was born in Lindsay, Ontario, to Hamlet and Ruth Wolfraim. She is predeceased by her late husbands Ray Sadler (2006), Cecil Campbell (2005), and Gerard Vansaarloos (2021); her siblings, Harry Wolfraim (2012), Helen Harris (2009), twin sister Anne Campbell (2020), and grandson Aaron (2017).
Ruth’s life was marked by a deep love for music- She will be fondly remembered as a woman who enjoyed music. She played the piano for family gatherings and as the church organist, she sang along with her sister as a soprano in church choirs, and with the community Simcoe Songsters. She enjoyed gatherings, having people around her and having a good chat. Ruth also cherished and had opportunities to travel, exploring Asia, Europe, New Zealand, and much of Canada.
Ruth attended Almonte High School. She then graduating as a Registered Nurse from Toronto Western, Ruth’s life took an adventurous turn. She and her first husband, Ray Sadler, moved to Hong Kong in 1961, where they worked as missionaries with the Church of Christ in China. Ruth taught piano lessons and supported community children's services. During this time, Ray and Ruth adopted three children of their own. After 12 years, the family returned to Canada, settling in Ontario, where Ruth reconnected with family and friends and learned to sew, while her husband went back to university.
In 1973, Ruth and her family moved to Maymont, Saskatchewan, where they enjoyed the warmth of small-town life and formed lasting friendships.
After parting from her first husband, Ruth returned to her roots in Ontario and settled to be close to her sister Anne. She became involved in administrative work courses, church music, and choir.
Ruth’s next chapter took her back to Saskatchewan to spend more time with her children, David, Sandra, and Debbie forging deeper connections as mom and friend. We hold on to those memories deeply. Ruth then returned to Ontario, where she lived in Barrie, where she met her second husband, Cecil Campbell, a warm and gentle person, Together, they shared 15 years of comfortable companionship until Cecil’s passing in 2005. Mom continued to work with children’s services and with retirement became deeply involved in her church, including serving as organist and choir director for Westminster Presbyterian Church assisting neighbours and friends in need and most of all spending time with close family members.
Ruth met Gerard Vansaarloos, their love for music brought them together. They married in 2011, They enjoyed country drives, coffee shop breaks, and volunteering together with the Simcoe Songsters and the Jesus Walk at Collier United Church. Time offered them to travel more to visit Gerard’s family in Holland and New Zealand, as well as Ruth’s children in Western Canada. Gerard passed away in 2021.
Ruth was a giving person; she would give what she had. Sharing her musical talents with others, volunteering for singing groups, weddings, and church services, and supporting causes such as Amnesty International. She was always there to lend a helping hand, whether it was for family, friends, or neighbors in need through talk or providing transportation. Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family, particularly during reunions and celebrations, where there would always be music to enjoy; a piano to play or a song to hear or sing.
David, Sandra and Debbie and their families would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the caregivers at Riverbend Lifestyle Options Senior Residence in Edmonton, HolSome Place Continuing Care Home in Edmonton, and Grey Nuns Hospital in Edmonton for their kindness and comfort during Ruth’s final years. We are also grateful to Ruth’s friends who kept in constant touch with her and visited her in Edmonton.
Despite challenges with mobility and sight in her later years, Mom’s life was full, and we know that after living such a rich and meaningful life, Mom can rest. We will miss her voice, her smile, and her laughter.
Cremation has taken place, and mom will be laid to rest in Barrie, Ontario. A celebration of life will be held at Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home, 30 Worsley St., Barrie, Ontario, Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 2:00PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charity of your choice in memory of Ruth.
“In the hearts of those she touched… For nothing loved is ever lost – and she was loved so much.”
Online memories and condolences may be forwarded via www.steckleygooderham.com