Skip to content

KOOYMAN, Ruth (nee Hedemann) January 17, 1930 - November 11, 2012. With sadness in our hearts, the family

announce the passing of Ruth in Peace Arch Hospital on Sunday Nov. 11 2012, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Ruth was born in Perth, Western Australia on Jan 17, 1930. After travelling extensively, she settled in British Columbia in 1958, working as

a legal secretary for Guild-Yule and Company in Vancouver. Ruth came to the South Surrey-White Rock area occasionally since the late fifties and settled in the Ocean Park area permanently in 1968 when she married her husband Harmen. The two raised their

son Daniel and lived in the same house until ill health took her to Peace Arch Hospital where she spent her last two months in the loving care of the staff there. When the Peace Arch News was just starting under Roy Jelly, he came to Ruth to ask if she would join this small upstart newspaper. She loved

working at the PAN, where she was known for her attention to detail and keeping the reporters and editors in line when it came to spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Ruth was very active in the community, volunteering with many organizations, including the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary. She also spent

countless hours making gifts to be sold in hospital gift shops in support of the Hospice Society. Ruth is survived by her husband Harmen of Ocean Park, son Daniel, daughter-in-law Kimberley, and grandson William of Fall River, NS, as well as sisters Olga and Janice, both of Mandurah, Western Australia.

A celebration of Ruth's life will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2012, at 1pm at Sunnyside United Church, 15639 24th Ave, Surrey BC. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian

Cancer Society are greatly appreciated.

kooyman, Ruth (nee Hedemann)