Obituary of Ruth Herrick

Ruth Herrick (Née Boswell) died peacefully on Thursday, September 29, 2022 from cancer. Ruth died in the tender care of her two daughters, Sandra Herrick (Rob Ashe) and Sally Herrick (Scott Kille) who provided Ruth with love and tenderness over the last 7 months and intensely over these past few weeks.  She was predeceased by her husband Dominic (Dom) Herrick. She was the oldest child of Ida and Walter Boswell of Arnprior and sister of Donna (Jim deceased), David (Nanci), Beth (Terry Gibeau), Bob (deceased), Walter (Louise), Laura (Ken Campbell), Allan (Cheryl). Predeceased by some of Dom’s siblings, she was a wonderful sister in law over the years to Tish and Allan Stanton, Des and Doreen, (Doris), Leonard and Donna, Lois and Bill Ryan, Vince, Estelle and Ron Grenier, Phyllis and Doug Flegal, Pat and Suzanne, Mike and Lucy, Kathy and Gerry Ste Marie. She was a loving and involved Aunt to 55 nieces and nephews. 

Born in Arnprior, Ontario Ruth met Dom in high school.  They fell in love and cherished each other through 51 years of marriage and friendship.

Following the birth of Sandra, Ruth and Dom moved to Ottawa, where Sally was born. Ruth attended Ottawa Teacher's College and St. Pat’s College.  A committed educator, Ruth spent 32 years as an elementary school teacher and Principal in the Ottawa District School Board. Ruth’s final and most rewarding assignment was as Principal at the Ottawa Treatment Center, affiliated with CHEO, where she created a loving and learning environment for children unable to attend regular schools due to their physical challenges.

Ruth adored her family and friends. She spent many weekends travelling back to Arnprior to enjoy a boating day on the Ottawa River with Dom and her parents and attending reunions or gatherings of her large and extended family. She loved them all. Later in life, as the Queen of Fairmont Avenue, Ruth enjoyed the company of her many neighbors, all of whom treated Ruth with friendship and care.

She was a beacon of honesty, duty, commitment and pragmatism. This, together with her strength and clarity of vision, never doubting the right path to take, was an invaluable gift to her family.  Above all, Ruth loved and cherished her daughters who, quite naturally, inherited from Ruth those same instincts with their own children. Ruth was a close and committed Nan to Frances, Charlotte and Robbie Ashe, and to Shaney and Sean Kille, and a close friend to her sons-in-Law, Rob and Scott.  Ruth lit up in the presence of her grandchildren. She celebrated their successes; consoled them when challenged and littered her home with pictures of them. She is irreplaceable and will be greatly missed by all.

The family expresses gratitude to the extremely caring and compassionate staff at the Ottawa General Hospital and especially to their Palliative Care team and the 6th floor West nursing team.

Friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street (at O’Connor) Ottawa on Sunday October 2 from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Celebration of Life to follow immediately. In memoriam donations to a child focussed charity would be gratefully appreciated.