Thursday, July 27, 2023
Dear Debi and Tim & Tina and all grandchildren, Our hearts go out to each of you for the significant loss of your beloved mother & grandmother. As Debi & Tim know we had a wonderful and close friendship with both Rae and Tom. I, personally, appreciated Rae, because she was all you'd want in a girlfriend. When we were stay at home mothers, I was very isolated where we lived in the country in Elba, and Rae was at times, more than a friend...she was like a sister. When I became seriously ill due to a drug that my GYNO-OB doctor prescribed ...she made a point of not only coming to our home and doing what she could for me and our family, including washing and fixing my hair since physically and mentally I wasn't functionally very well, she would come to Strong Memorial Hospital where I was hospitalized for a month. Rae helped me with my knitting...and during the times our husbands went golfing ...we would get together with other girlfriends...of course our children had to go with us. I'll always remember the first time Rae and Tom & their children went to Camp Frontenac in Canada where we encouraged them to join us. What fun we had playing Bridge and spending time on the small beach or wading in the water. Don and I will always remember our monthly bridge games with them and all the times we shared special outings. Rae had a wonderful sense of humor the stories we shared about motherhood and just our childhood.. I felt privileged and special when I went with her to visit her mother, Elfreide Barke. It was easy to see where Rae acquired her wonderful personality from. I always considered Rae..a lovely, gentle and gracious woman...someone who adored her husband and children and was a very loyal friend. Don and I counted ourselves blessed to have Rae & Tom as our dear friends.
With God's blessing and our love to every member of the family,
Rose & Don Ruck
