February 20, 1948 - December 10, 2023
Ruth Margaret Homan passed away peacefully on December 10, 2023 at Peace Arch Hospital with her family by her side at the age of 75 years old.
Ruth Homan was born at the Biliske family home just outside of Tisdale Saskatchewan on February 20, 1948. She was raised in Tisdale before moving to Saskatoon to pursue her post-secondary aspirations where she completed her Bachelor of Education in 1973.
While in Saskatoon she met and married her first husband, Bob Hall in 1972. While they were living in Edmonton, Alberta, he died suddenly in a light plane crash in 1974 while working on an environmental survey and protection project in Salmo, BC.
Ruth remained in Edmonton where she met her second husband, Doug Homan, when they worked together at Canadian Bechtel. They got married on December 20, 1975 and then moved to Calgary where Ruth gave birth to a baby boy (Christopher) on June 10, 1977. The family moved South to Pincher Creek, Alberta in 1978 where they owned and operated a McLeods hardware store.
During this time Ruth continued her training in education by completing coursework in early childhood education at the University of Lethbridge. In 1981 she started her teaching career as a Kindergarten teacher.
In 1983 the family moved to South Surrey, BC. Ruth continued her fulfilling career as a primary classroom teacher and later as an integration support teacher after completing her Diploma of Education in Reading Education at the University of British Columbia in 1994. She worked in the Surrey school district (SD36) for 26 years, teaching at Bonaccord Elementary, East Kensington Elementary and Don Christian Elementary schools.
Throughout her career, she positively impacted hundreds of students and co-workers' lives with her caring and nurturing demeanour. She retired from the classroom in 2009.
Throughout her life and into her retirement, she lived life to the fullest and was always ready for the next adventure. Ruth loved the outdoors, travelling the world, camping, canoeing, getting her hands dirty in the garden, playing cards/games around the table, making amazing dinners and desserts for her loved ones, reading a good book with a cup of tea, and most importantly, spending time with her family.
Ruth put everyone before herself, always trying to help others as that was her nature. She was deeply loved by so many people in her life - wife, mom, grandma, friend, teacher, mentor - and will continue to be loved forever with all the memories held closely in our hearts.
Ruth was predeceased by her parents Lil and William Biliske and her first husband Bob Hall.
She is survived by her husband Doug, her son Chris (Kazia), and her two cherished granddaughters Selyse and Karis. She will be deeply missed by her Aunt Tilly, cousin Barb, dear friends as well as extended family and friends in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
A gathering of family and friends will be held in April in honour of Ruth. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the BC Cancer Foundation.