Ruby Paquin October 21, 1946 - September 15, 2023

On September 15, 2023, family and friends said a loving goodbye to our mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend, Elizabeth Ruby Paquin (nee Chartrand), born October 21, 1946.

Ruby was born in Northern Manitoba as a middle child of 14 children. Her parents were James and Elizabeth Chartrand. Like all families that are large, some siblings had already come and gone, by the time Ruby was born but, despite this, Ruby fostered strong relationships with all of her siblings.

Ruby had many favorite things, originating from a love of family and nature. They included picking blueberries with her sisters Lena and Cauleen. She also loved playing cribbage with Alice, laughing with Alan, long chats on the phone with Loretta and cooking fabulous Christmas dinners for plenty of family members. She always had some kind of wonderful soup cooking or spaghetti sauce simmering. Over the years many people sat around her table at special times enjoying Ruby’s fabulous home cooking.

Ruby was a fabulous mother to the end. She was always available, always loving. She supported her family with sage advice, and thoughtfulness, but also with her feistiness and sense of humor. She will be greatly missed as the matriarch of the family.

Ruby’s passion was playing all kinds of games with family and friends. She could be very “competitive” playing scrabble, board games, card games. She also loved crossword puzzles. Many Christmases were spent in a four day family scrabble challenge – where Ruby loved to throw down words that would have the family talking for hours.

Her greatest joy was her grandchildren. She loved spending summer vacations with her grandchildren who would come and visit. They would spend days at the beach, watching movies, going to the fair, sleepovers with cousins and blueberry picking. She fostered very close relationships with her all grandsons that continue to this day.

Throughout the years she worked tirelessly in the forestry industry in various aspects. She was not afraid of hard work, planting trees, working in the green house, and picking cones. One of her favorite places to work was PRT each spring. She enjoyed the people she worked with and had many laughs with them. Ruby also had a diploma in Early Childhood Education and worked locally in the Dryden area for a short while.

This past year Ruby endured many events with courage. She lost her husband Pierre Sr. this past October. She was deeply saddened by this loss but bravely continued on. Her family was proud of their mother and her inner strength. This past winter, cancer took a hold of her health, and this proved to be Ruby’s greatest challenge. Her mettle against this disease took on many forms and demonstrated her deep sources of strength. She lived the last few days of her life in her home, proud of her own tenacity.

Ruby chose to close the final chapter of her life in palliative care, surrounded by her family. Her last day with us was one filled with love. Grandchildren came and went, the family sat and chatted and held her hand, and sisters and her daughter called from afar to say goodnight. She went peacefully with sounds of family playing games and the sound of laughter in her room, as she requested. Ruby was finally at rest and free of pain.

Ruby leaves behind her daughter Nicole, son-in-law Malcolm, their sons Colin (Quin), Graeme (Charis). Her son Pierre Jr., daughter-in-law Sherry, their children, Gilles and son Pierre Joseph, James, Terra, Thomas, their spouses and children. She also leaves her sisters Loretta, Cauleen, Alice and brothers, Norman, Frank, and their families. Ruby was recently predeceased by her husband Pierre (2022) and her beloved grandson Pierre Etienne (2009).