Born ‎3 Feb 1921 Amaranth Township, Ontario, Canada, died ‎4 Jan 2016 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada‎, 94 years, cause of death: Stroke, buried ‎7 Jan 2016 Forest Lawn Cem. Orangeville
Orangeville Banner
Date: 10 Feb 1921,Page:3,Column:1,Type: Birth Notice
Mr and Mrs Thos. W. HODGSON a daughter

Obituary for Ruth Alice Dermott
Dermott, Ruth Alice Little (nee Hodgson)
On Thursday, February 3, 1921, Thomas Wharton Hodgson and Alice Mabel Little welcomed their fourth daughter, Ruth Alice Little Hodgson into the world. On Monday, January 4, 2016, her sons and loving family were with her as she departed peacefully at Headwaters Health Care Centre, Orangeville.

Ruth was the granddaughter of George Hodgson and Maria Edington, and William James Little and Hannah Twible.

Growing up on a Century farm in Amaranth, she knew what work meant, helping with the chores on the farm with her four sisters and one brother. Later, Ruth worked as a bookkeeper for a garage and would sometimes drive taxi for them and continued to do bookkeeping after her marriage in addition to being mother to four boys. Ruth and Frank raised their family on their farm in Mono Township. She was the sole subject of a book entitled "A Dufferin Girl" in honour of her 90th birthday.

Ruth is predeceased by her husband Frank Albert Wootten Dermott (1979). She is survived by her four sons and their partners - Paul and Jacqueline, Alan and Joanne, Philip and Richard, and Michael and Anne. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren - Vince Dermott (Bonnie), Steve Dermott (Hazel), Lori Dermott, Tanya Dermott-Bradley (Larry), Jennifer Dermott (Dean Guillemette), Scott Dermott, Caitlin Dermott, and nine great-grandchildren - Amber Dermott, Kendralea, and Travis Dermott, Haydyn and Kaya Parker, Hannah and Nolan Bradley, Jack and Sam Guillemette.

She is also survived by her brother Arthur Hodgson (Audrey) and sister Betty Duncan (the late Fred (2011)). Predeceased by sisters Meta Hodgson (1987), Sadie Golden (1990) (the late Jim Golden) and Della Trimble (2011) (the late Gordon Trimble (1962)).

Ruth will be affectionately remembered by her family and many (grand)nieces and (grand)nephews and friends in addition to her fellow associates at Camilla High Country United Church (formerly St. Andrew's United Church) where she was a long-time member.

A special thank you to the Dufferin County Paramedics, the doctors and nurses at Headwaters Health Care Centre and Southlake Hospital, CCAC, Red Cross, care providers and PSWs who have provided assistance to her over the past ten years. A special thank you to Carol.

Visitation will be held at the Dods & McNair Funeral Home, Chapel & Reception Centre, 21 First Street, Orangeville on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. Donations to Camilla High Country United Church or the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated.

A tree will be planted in memory of Ruth in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. A dedication service will be held on Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. Condolences may be offered to the family at http://www.dodsandmcnair.com



Eulogy by her son Philip
A daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin, an aunt, a wife, a mother, a mother-in-law, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, and let's not forget - a true friend, Ruth embraced each of these roles as each year passed.

As was the case with her own mother Alice, family was always Ruth's first priority. Whether it was her own four sons and eventually their families or her own sisters and brother, she was always concerned with how well they were doing or what they needed assistance with. This was an evident trait with Ruth at a very young age as she used to tell me how she would take her younger brother Arthur to the garage and with an old tin blackboard and some chalk and get him an early start to his schooling with the alphabet or some math!

Ruth lost her father at a young age. She was sixteen when he passed. As she told me some years later as part of our family history discussions that because of that its likely why she married an older man - she needed a father figure. Despite her mother not being in full approval, she married Frank in November 1943. With the money Ruth had gotten from her inheritance from her father's estate, Frank and Ruth bought the farm where she would spend the next 72 years of her life.

The first ten years Ruth and Frank farmed raising chickens (mom collected eggs every day), cattle, sheep and even some pigs. During this time her two eldest were born - Paul and Alan and Ruth and Frank managed to support the four of them working the farm. Then in 1952, with a third child on the way, more income was needed and Frank took a job at Orenda Engines. A good thing too cause the third child became four very shortly and Philip and Michael brought the family to six.

For those that remember, the 1960s were the time of big rock concerts and rock festivals in the summer. Mom, my brother Michael and myself had our own different type of rock festival in the 60s. Mom would drive the tractor pulling the wagon up and down the field while Michael and I would walk along side picking up the exposed stones in the field and throwing them on the wagon. Now that's a rock festival!

When we were growing up there was always a large garden to attend too and mom would be in the garden each day reaping the produce - whether it was a six quart basket of beans or peas to prepare for the next meal or swiss chard to wash, mom always had lots on the table for her family to eat.

And there was always lots of hired help too back in those days for the harvests and unlike today where they bring their own lunch or supper, the wife was expected to feed the men who had come to help. I can remember during haying when there could be as many as ten men around the table and mom always had lots of food on the table for them. And this wasn't just one meal a day but usually both lunch and supper so mom was working just as hard in the kitchen as the men were in the field. This is likely when mom really honed her pie baking skills - as there was always pie at both lunch and supper and with ten men at the table, that meant at least two pies each meal! Through the years, mom was known for her pies and whenever the family got together mom always made pies for the event. And she didn't just limit herself to a few types of pies. It could be lemon meringue, apple, cherry, peach, blueberry, bosen berry, goose berry, raspberry, elder berry, mincemeat, raisin, butterscotch, chocolate, pumpkin, rhubarb - I'm sure I have missed some!

When it came to music, mom always enjoyed a lively and spirited peace of music. So it came as no surprise that once I had learned to play "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin that it became a regular request of mom's to hear.

As a mother, she gave her boys a great freedom to be themselves and made herself a promise never to interfere in their marriages / relationships. She did not want to be a meddling mother-in-law and wanted to spare her sons the stress she had felt in her own marriage as a result of her experience with her mother-in-law. And it seems to have worked as I've often heard from my sisters-in-laws and my own partner that they couldn't have had a better mother-in-law. My partner expressed it this way while we drove home earlier this week - "I have been most fortunate to have had two mothers".

So mom, although you physically won't be with me now, know that you have taught me well and I will continue to draw on the wisdom you have imparted as I continue my own aging. I'm really going to miss our nightly phone calls and weekly Sunday visits and meals together. I know where your recipe books are so I guess I'm going to have to try my hand at making pies - but they won't be as good as yours!

There will always be a part of you with me and in me. Thank you for all your patience with my mis-adventures - falling down the stairs and breaking my collar bone when I was a toddler, tipping the milk separator and almost loosing an eye when I was about ten, rolling my cousin's Tommy's mini-bike and breaking my collar bone (again!) in my late teens and my car accident that resulted in a broken hip and cracked ribs and nursing me back to health for three months after it just shy of my turning 30. But most of all, thanks for being my mom and my friend and don't worry - you've taught your four sons well and we will be guided by your love and caring always.

I love you mom and God Bless.


Eulogy by granddaughter Jennifer
I am so fortunate to have called Ruth Dermott my grandmother. When we were really little, my brother and I called her nanny, nanny-on-the-farm. As we became older though nanny-on-the-farm was replaced by the more traditional grandma and more recently morphed to Grandma Ruthie. I will always, with the greatest love and affection think of her as Ruthie.

Although she knew me my entire life, I knew her for only a fraction of hers. It is difficult for me to truly appreciate the magnitude of change in the world, society, technology that she was witness to over her lifetime. Despite this, to me she was timeless. I think this is in part related to the fact that she took her greatest pleasure in the simple things in life: her home and the land around it, a cup of tea, maybe a little treat now and then to satisfy her sweet tooth, but most of all her family. She so loved family. She loved to hear stories about what people were up to, she loved to talk about her family, and of course she loved to spend time with her family. She was up for a gathering, anytime, any place. How happy she would be to have such a group of family and friends together today.

She never looked to be the centre of attention but loved to just be part of whatever was going on. She was a keen observer and never missed a thing. She seemed to keep a close eye on everyone's weight. Gain or lose a few pounds, she would notice and be sure to comment.

Over the past several day I, and I think many of us have felt this strange, confusing mingling of emotions. There's this broken joy in remembering her, looking at pictures and talking about her, there's perhaps some relief that the end came so quickly, but there is also profound sadness and grief. Over the past few days as people have offered me their condolences I have said over and over again, "it's ok. It was a life well lived and I only hope to be so lucky". And I do hope to be so lucky. She had sons that respected and adored her, family that loved her and thoroughly enjoyed her company, but she also had her mind, her independence, and her mobility right up to the end. The month of December she had several opportunities to celebrate the holidays with family and even as recent as New Years Eve was over with Michael Anne and Caitlin eating Chinese food. I do hope to be so lucky.

If any of you have had the opportunity to read A Dufferin Girl, the recollection from the life of Ruth Dermott, she says food is how she thinks she'll be remembered.

When I was younger many Sunday Suppers were held at the farm. We'd all sit in around her long kitchen table and if the group was big enough, card tables would be set up in the front room for the kids to eat there. If we were lucky there would be a box of Turtles or Pot of Gold to go around.

Strawberry Suppers at the Camilla Church were always a favourite. I'm sure that almost everyone here has been to the strawberry supper at some point in time. The last Wednesday of June is always marked on the calendar.
No family gathering was complete without Ruthie's pies. It was a given she would bring the pie.

She also enjoyed dining out and many special milestones were celebrated at restaurants. Sometimes for gifts I bought restaurant gift cards for grandma and only later realized she would save these giftcards until I had the opportunity to visit so she could then treat me to lunch with the gift card I had bought her. One of my favourite restaurant moments was when I was probably 14 or so, travelling down to Florida in a minvan with my parents, brother, and both grandmothers. After a long day of travel, somewhere in one of the southern states (Alabama?) we were all tired, hungry probably a little grumpy, and the service was so slow. Well my calm, easy going, quiet grandmother picked up her knife and fork and started banging on the table. It certainly broke the tension and made us all laugh.

Today is a sad day as we say goodbye but it is also celebration of the life of Ruth Dermott. How blessed we all are to have shared time with Ruth Dermott, to see the twinkle in her eye, to experience her wonderful sense of humour and her love of life. I, like her will strive to take pleasure in the simple things and find my greatest comfort in the love of family.

I love you Grandma Ruthie.


Eulogy by granddaughter Caitlin
For anybody who doesn't know me my name is Caitlin. My father, Michael, is Ruth's youngest son, who comes from a family of four boys.

My Grandma grew up in a house located in Amaranth with all five of her siblings. Meta, Sadie, Della, Arthur, and Betty. When Ruth was old enough to work she became a bookkeeper for a local taxi company. In the years to follow Ruth and her husband, Frank, would provide nearby schools with supplies such as pencils, paper, and the strap. For all quality control purposes I understand that they were all tested and approved before being delivered. Grandma and Grandpa had four strong and handsome boys who she would love unconditionally. Little did she know that she would raise and support her boys into their 60's and 70's.

Living on the farm comes with many responsibilities, but also a whole lot of fun. While having a good time the boys often found themselves getting into quite a bit of trouble. Paul needed rescuing one summer afternoon when he had accidentally fallen into a well. Luckily a slate of wood stopped him part way down and Mr. Bill Stavely, a neighbor at the time, used a ladder to retrieve the young boy. I've recently learned that this encounter made it to the local paper. Alan was walking alongside the road one evening and a neighbor's dog started chasing him. He mistakenly darted into the road and was hit by a car. He was taken to the hospital but no serious injuries were found and he was able to come home that night. Philip was known for sneaking cats into the house while his parents were sleeping and Michael went horseback riding one morning, but he had forgotten to tighten the girth so his saddle slipped and he rode the rest of the way home upside down. Even though her boys often found trouble my Grandma never stopped loving them.

Not only was Grandma smart she was very good with her hands. She did all of her own sewing for the boys and herself. She made her own soap, and planted and used her own garden for meals. She even taught me how to set up my own garden with green onions and carrots. She inevitably took care of the garden because I don't have a green thumb whatsoever. Her independence is balanced with her love for company with family and friends. Grandma felt so blessed to have 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. She's always been so proud of what we've all accomplished. Grandma just received her updated drivers license in the mail and if that doesn't prove that she is a strong and determined woman I don't know what will.

I have fond memories of Sunday dinners with Grandma. She would make roast beef, potatoes, corn, and the best gravy around. Grandma knew my favorite pie was cherry, so even when she made her classic Rhubarb pie straight from the garden she would make me a mini cherry pie. Sometimes we would even measure how tall I was and we would mark it on the bathroom door frame. Grandma was so proud of the young girl her son was raising. After supper we would sit in front of the tv and watch the news. I never understood how the news could be so interesting. Grandma was always happy to receive a phone call, a letter, or her favorite a visit from anyone, but during the week everyone knew not to call between 6-7 because the news was on.

It's hard to condense 95 years into just a few minutes, but I know you all have your own stories about her as a, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, sister, friend and so on. I think Grandma will be remembered for her love of good dinners and especially her unconditional love for family.

Grandma, I am so proud to be your granddaughter and to be able to call such a strong woman a role model in my life. I see many of your qualities in myself such as being strong-willed, determined, and sometimes stubborn. I love you and I miss you.

Born ‎26 Feb 1910 Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States, baptised ‎27 Nov 1912 Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Bad Axe, Huron, Michigan, died ‎26 Oct 1979 Orangeville, Ontario, Canada‎, 69 years, buried ‎29 Oct 1979 Forest Lawn Cem. Orangeville, Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
THE JESTER

Frank Albert Wootten Dermott was a very well-liked man. He was born in 1910, in the United States of America. Frank married Ruth Alice Hogdson in 1943. He had four sons and lived most of his life just north of Orangeville. Frank worked at home and away from home. He was always known to be a joker. For example, he enjoyed putting hot peppers in other people's food.

Frank was born in 1910 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. His parents died when he was only three years old. Frank had a twin brother named James Alfred and a half sister named Undine. He grew up having five different caregivers. In under five years Frank was sent from one caregiver to another, until one of his aunts sent him to her sister in Canada, during World War 1.

Frank came to Canada at the age of seven. He lived with his aunt's sister, Ethel and her husband Sam Dermott until he married and moved into his new home with Ruth. Frank grew up with dogs and cats and his two cousins, Alvin and Harry were his closest friends. As a child, Frank enjoyed playing jokes on people, like locking them in the outhouse. He enjoyed playing hockey and baseball and he also liked making wood creations. Frank liked school a lot. His favorite subject was math. Frank's favorite teacher was in grade seven. Her name was Mrs. Porter. The teachers were very strict back then. Frank had to drop out to pick potatoes in high school. When he returned, the teachers wouldn't help him so he quit. If Frank could relive a day he would not drop out of school to pick potatoes.

Frank met Ruth Alice Hogdson at a dance and they got married in 1943. On their honeymoon they traveled to Toronto and Guelph. The honeymoon took about three days! Shortly after they had four sons.

Frank worked on the farm where he lived. It was a general farm where he grew crops. He also had sheep, chickens, cows, dogs and hens. Also two horses named Ginger and Sputnick. Frank also bred German Shepherds. Frank worked at Arenda [sic, Orenda] Engines including working on the Avro Arrow Airplane. While Frank was working at Arenda [sic, Orenda] Engines there were many responsibilities to follow. One was that you could not make any mistakes! He made many friends while working. Frank enjoyed working on the farm and at Arenda [sic, Orenda] Engines.

A meaningful time in Frank's life was spending time with his four sons. Paul Albert Carlyle Dermott was born on March 02, 1945. Alan Thomas Dermott was born on August 09, 1946. Philip Stephen Dermott was born on February 08, 1953. Michael Edward Dermott was born on November 27, 1954. Frank taught the boys how to swim, water ski, play hockey, fish, ride horses and do farm work. Some memories of his children are: Michael riding Sputnick under his belly instead of on his back because the saddle had slipped out of place. Paul and Alan used to use a pail as a toilette in the winter time. Trying to get Philip and Michael down from the roof when it was supper time. And when Paul had fallen down in the well.

Frank belonged to the Odd Fellows Lodge which was a place where friendships were made. Frank's mother-in-law's name was Alice and when it was her birthday the family would go to her house for the celebration. Frank loved Thanksgiving because of the turkey dinner! Frank's favorite foods were ice cream, hamburgers, apple pie, bread and butter,and anything fried. His favorite book was Black Beauty. His favorite show to watch was I love Lucy. And his favorite musician was Don Messer, who plays the fiddle. Frank's favorite Christmas song was White Christmas. For Christmas the family would rent a hall for only eight dollars! The family rented the hall because of the number of people. Frank would get nuts, candy and an orange in his stocking. Frank's favorite Christmas gift was a sweater that had all his curling awards attached to it. He enjoyed curling very much.

Frank retired in 1975 at the age of 65. Ruth and Frank went on a cruise to Alaska for his retirement celebration. They sailed up the west coast of British Columbia to Alaska. Then shortly after his retirement, Frank passed away from a heart attack in 1979 at the age of 69.

Here are some memories of Frank Albert Wootten Dermott from family members, neighbours and friends: "He was a good dancer and we both loved going to dances and playing cards!", said Ruth. Paul said, "He was a hard worker!" Alan enjoyed "how we worked together." Philip likes "how much he enjoyed the farm." Michael remembers "how he liked to joke around a lot!" Tanya (Paul's daughter) says, "He was strict and stern!" Graham (Frank's neighbour) remembers his love for animals, "especially dogs and cats!" Dr.Moran (Frank's doctor) said "He liked to do things the hard way." If Frank were alive today I'm sure he would have many more stories to share!

I Caitlin Dermott would like to thank everyone who helped me write this biography on Frank Albert Wootten Dermott. Thank you for teaching me so much more about my grandfather. I want to give a special thanks to my grandmother Ruth for having so much patience, and time for me. I now feel closer to my grandfather knowing the history of his life.

THANKS
Written by Caitlin Dermott, grand-daughter, as a school assignment - December 2008

Newspaper clipping, November 7, 1979
FRANK A. DERMOTT
A widely known resident of Mono township, Frank Albert Dermott, of Camilla, (RR 4, Orangeville), died Oct. 26 in Dufferin Area Hospital, after an illness of three weeks. He was 69.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Dermott. He attended Orangeville and Gleno Public Schools, and Orangeville High School. He was active in Junior Farmers work and a well known baseball player in his younger years.

He married Ruth Alice Hodgson Nov. 16, 1943 at St. Mark's Rectory, Orangeville, and afterwards made their home on the farm at Camilla. In addition to his farming career, Mr. Dermott had worked as an assembler, and on repair and overhaul at Orenda Engines for 22 years, before retiring four and a half years ago.

He was a member of St. Andrew's United Church, Camilla, where he had recently completed a term as steward.

Mr. Dermott had been a member of the Maple Leaf Lodge, No. 57, I.O.O.F., Orangeville, and had also been a member of the Orangeville Curling Club for 25 years.

Mr. Dermott had served as secretary-treasurer of the Mono township school board for 12 years, and had also served as township assessor in 1944 and 1945.

Mr. Dermott is survived by his wife Ruth, and his four sons, Paul of Etobicoke; Alan of Brampton; Philip and Michael of Weston; and six grandchildren.

Funeral services, held Oct. 29, 1979, at the Baxter and Giles Funeral Home, were conducted by Rev. Cyril Dyke of Camilla. Interment was in Forest Lawn Mausoleum.

An Oddfellow's service was held on Sunday evening at 8 p.m. Mr. Dermott's pallbearers were neighbors Graham Clowes and Fred McKelvey, and fellow lodge members Merv Watson, Joe Mottart, Rolfe Barber and Ross Binnington.

Flowerbearers were four grandchildren, Vincent Dermott, Stephen Dermott, Lori-Ann Dermott, and Tanya Dermott.

Christening Record:
Name: Frank Albert Wootten
Gender: Male
Baptism/Christening Date: 27 Nov 1912
Baptism/Christening Place: SAINT PAULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BAD AXE, HURON, MICHIGAN
Birth Date: 26 Feb 1910
Birthplace:
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: Frank Alfred Wootten
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Arminta Wootten
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C53273-1
System Origin: Michigan-VR
Source Film Number: 955796
Reference Number: 2:GR05T2

(Research):In response to a query from Bernadette Hardaker while doing research on Mom's story:
Bernadette - I'll try to answer your questions as best I can - in fact, your question has helped me fill a missing link that I just located on the Internet.

Amongst the list of brother's and sisters for Ethel Maharg (Dermott), Frank's adopted mother, I missed including a sister Mary Jane Maharg although I did have her listed in the family history. As you noted Mary Jane was married to Albert Wootten, Frank's uncle. Now my understanding is that Albert was a hotelier and operated a hotel in Detroit (I also discovered a couple of years ago that Albert was a member of the Elks). One of Albert's brothers, Edward A. listed bartender as his occupation on his marriage registration and mom (Ruth) indicated that the family (Wootten's) did work in hospitality when I told her about locating the marriage information for Edward A.

Sam and Ethel were married in 1910 but apparently Ethel was not able to have children and desired to have a child greatly.

As noted in the family history, Frank's parents died from TB in 1914. It is my understanding that at least Frank then stayed with Wootten relatives over the next several years. I recall a story about dad when his cousin Doris Hewitt (Pfeiffer) visited one summer in the 1970s. Frank liked to play practical jokes and apparently one of the factors that resulted in his end of staying with Doris and her parents was when he locked Doris in the outhouse!

I don't know if the other two children (Undine and James) were also supported by the relatives in those immediate years following the death of Frank Alfred and Arminta or not. From the story about Doris, I believe it was only Frank who stayed with her and her parents and not the other two. That may be because Frank was apparently the healthiest of the three children from what we were told by his cousin Nellie Johnston (Kydd). The Johnston's were able to keep track of Frank because he came up to Canada but contact with the other two children was lost. From what is known, it is believed that Undine ended up in the mid-west possibly the Chicago area where she apparently died while a teenager. Frank's brother James is suspected to have ended up in California. It was the Johnston's that contacted Frank after he married Ruth that we began to get information prior to Frank's coming to Canada.

The marriage registration for Frank and Arminta would indicate that the two were neighbours in Cleveland. I suspect when their health began to fail because of the TB, they relocated to the Detroit area to be closer to Frank's brothers and sisters, specifically Albert. I also suspect it may have been because of the failing health/death of Albert that was the final factor in Frank's coming to Canada. I guess that's the long way of saying that my mother's estimate of when Frank came to Canada is correct as his parents died in 1914 and the next several years was spent going from relative to relative until finally he was taken in by Sam and Ethel Dermott.

Now on coming to Canada, it was indeed an "aunt" that brought him over. I say "aunt" because it was a sister of Ethel's and Mary Jane that physically brought Frank north. That sister was Catherine (Cassie).

As noted earlier, Sam and Ethel wanted children. Ether's sister, Mary Jane (wife of Albert Wootten) knew of this and when it was determined that he wasn't going to be able to stay with Wootten relatives and I suspect because of Albert's involvement (possible executor) after the death of Frank's parents, Mary Jane, Ethel and Cassie arranged to have Frank brought over to be raised by Sam and Ethel. There was never any indication that the other two children were considered so I suspect that by this time they may have already been separated and the three children never had contact again.