MADDEN, Ruth ‘Neena’

Glace Bay

With broken hearts we announce the passing of Ruth ‘Neena’ Madden of Tom-Kenn Drive, Glace Bay, on Wednesday, July 29, 2015, at the Glace Bay Hospital.

Born in Glace Bay, on Feb. 3, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Harold and Violet (Ried out) Butts.

Ruth was a longtime employee of the Bank of Nova Scotia, she turned to knitting upon retirement to while away the hours. She created her “Woolies” dolls and other knitted dolls clothing; becoming a member of the Cape Breton Home Crafters. She also enjoyed watching movies, playing Scrabble and working on her cryptoquotes and crossword puzzles. After some coaxing, she also came out of retirement and started bowling in a local women’s league.

Ruth’s two greatest loves were spending time with family and baking, which was often an extension of her love for her family and close friends. All the family had their favourite treats, which they could expect to find waiting, when they came to visit.

Ruth is survived by her son, Richard (Kathleen), Spring Hill, Tenn.; and her daughter, Lisa (Stephen) Hogan, Lantz, N.S. She took great pride in her four loving grandchildren, Carolyn and Hillary Hogan, Lantz, and Jordan and Meredith Mitchell, Spring Hill. Also surviving are special family members, sister-in-law, Rose McCormick and cousin, Shirley Stevenson. Loving nieces and nephews were also special and kind to Ruth during her recent illness.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Lawrence (Laurie) Madden, parents, Harold and Violet Butts, also of Glace Bay, and four sisters in infancy, Hazel, Phyllis, Shirley and Marilyn.

As per Ruth’s wishes, cremation has taken place under the care and direction of V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 16 Reserve St., Glace Bay.

A private interment service will be held at a later date in Greenwood Cemetery, Glace Bay, with CSM Fred Courtney officiating.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in Ruth’s memory is encouraged to give to the palliative care unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, the Cape Breton chapter of the VON or the Canadian Cancer Society.

At this time, the family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. David Ley for his loving care of our mom during the last several months. Also the VON nurses who came to mom’s home and were her “angels,” as well as nurses on the 3rd floor at the Glace Bay Hospital and palliative care unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Heartfelt thanks also to mom’s loving and special friend, Brenda Boutilier.

“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth1:16.

Online condolences to the family can be expressed at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca.