Ruth Alice Hodgson

   Cause of her death was Stroke.

  General Notes:

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.

OBJE: CONC Kathy), kneeling: George Walker; seated: ?, Alan Dermott, Frank Dermott (holding Michael), Philip Dermott, Diane Trimble, Don Trimble, ? Paul Dermott, ? Reg Trimble
OBJE: CONC odgson, Rhoda McKennitt; 3rd Row: Harry Sproule or Robert Lackey, Myrrl Corenlius, Edward Ferns, Jack Cumming, Clarence Simpson, Gordon Ellis; Back Row: Leslie Barber Wilfred Leach, Jak Huxley, Ian McIntosh, Wesley Bailey
OBJE: CONC d Ellis, Doug Price, Ed Ferns
CHAN: _WT_USER phild

  Noted events in her life were:

• Baptism, 23 Nov 1921, St. Mark's Anglican Church, Orangeville, Dufferin, Ontario, Canada.

Ruth married Frank Albert Wootten Dermott, son of Frank Alfred Wootten and Arminta Howlett, on 13 Nov 1943 in Orangeville, Dufferin, Ontario, Canada. (Frank Albert Wootten Dermott was born on 26 Feb 1910 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States of America, christened on 27 Nov 1912 in Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Bad Axe, Huron, Michigan, United States of America, died on 26 Oct 1979 in Orangeville, Dufferin, Ontario, Canada and was buried on 29 Oct 1979 in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Orangeville, Dufferin, Ontario, Canada.)

  Marriage Notes:

MARR: _UID 8FF251CA-A903-4594-89D2-03386D04116D
MARR: RIN MH:FF841