Obituary of Ruth Ten Brinke

It is with the heaviest of hearts and great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, sister and Nanny, Ruth Ten Brinke. She passed away peacefully at the Sault Area Hospital with her family by her side on Sunday, November 24, 2024, after a short but hard-fought battle.

She was born on October 10, 1957. Ruth grew up in Elliot Lake, Ontario and also spent time living in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. However, most recently, she could be found enjoying her retirement years with her husband, Jack, catching some sunshine on their deck in Echo Bay, Ontario.

Ruth was married for 47 years to her soulmate, Jack. Together, they spent these incredible years camping, fishing and taking the side-by-side for rides and on lunch dates. She also made sure Jack was always well-fed and she even roped him into watching curling with her. Ruth was the heart of our home and family. Together, they raised two daughters, Heidi LaBerge (Dan) and Kylie Turcotte (Robbie) in a happy and loving home to be thoughtful and caring adults. The girls made Ruth a “Nanny” and learned from the very best how to be mothers themselves. As Nanny to Maisie, Jackson, Molly, Hannah and Elise, she was always up for playing a board, dice or card game. She made sure they knew to eat chips from a bowl not a bag and loved sharing her love of cooking and baking with them. Her love for them was tremendous and her imprint on each of them will be with them forever. Ruth is predeceased by her mother Euena Grahl Madic and her father Kenneth Grahl. She is survived by her loving siblings, Joan Guitard (Don), Deborah Blahey (late Nicholas), Vera Askew (Mike), Keith Grahl (Joan) and Bruce Grahl (Sylvie). Cherished daughter-in-law of Maria and the late Jochem Ten Brinke. Dear sister-in-law of the late Albert Ten Brinke (Katy), Cathleen Miles (Nicholas) and Craig Ten Brinke (Karen). She was also a popular “Auntie Ruth” to her many nieces and nephews who enjoyed her sense of humour, quick wit and speech writing abilities. Ruth was a true friend to many, and they will miss her dearly, especially 49 yearlong friends, Pat and Anne-Marie Limlaw of Timmins, Ontario.  

Ruth was an incredibly hard worker who spent many years of her career at Rio Algom (Elliot Lake, ON) and Prentiss & Carlisle Forest Management (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) in addition to accepting and fulfilling an important role as Police Services Board Secretary SSM for several years. 

Ruth’s legacy is one of unyielding kindness and generosity. Our hearts are broken by this unexpected loss. She was the heartbeat of our family and to be loved by her was to be truly blessed. 

Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Service at Northwood Funeral Home Cremation and Reception Centre (942 Great Northern Rd, 705-945-7758) on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor John Faulkner officiating. A private family interment at Sylvan Valley Cemetery will take place at a later date. If you wish, memorial donations to the Kidney Foundation of SSM would be greatly appreciated.

The family would like to express their gratitude and appreciation to EMT Services, as well as the doctors and nurses in the ICU department at the Sault Area Hospital. Special thanks to Dr. Landry and Dr. DiFabio. The nursing staff’s compassion and kindness was an enormous comfort during this difficult time.  

We cherish the memories of her life and find solace with the Lord knowing that she is at peace. Until we meet again.... 

John 3:16 “So God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”