Ruth Elisabeth (Clancy) Killin
1923-2017
Ruth Elisabeth (Clancy) Killin
Daughter of Gordon and Martha (Mills) Clancy Born August 29th, 1923 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia and died March 6th 2017
Ruth moved from New Glasgow (NS) to Timmins (Ont) where her Dad found work as a car mechanic and later had his own “ Clancy’s” garage. As a “small world” example, one of Gordon’s customers at the time would later turn up as the Minister for Ruth’s church in Ajax some 30 + years later. It was during these years, in Timmins, that Ruth fell very ill (diphtheria) and was at one point close to death. Perhaps Ruth’s condition was the straw as they say but her Mom (Martha) had a nervous breakdown, refused to eat, and was sent to a psychiatric hospital in Toronto.
These family issues became too much of a challenge in Timmons for Gordon who decided to move his family to Toronto, where he found an apartment for them above a pet shop “Crooks”. Ruth had three siblings (Dorothy, Gordie, and Bertha) when the family moved to Toronto and welcomed a new little sister (Ruby) who was born on the kitchen table and was called the cucumber baby by their Mom since “it must have been the cucumbers I ate for my morning sickness”. After Ruby’s birth the family moved into a house on Ossington Ave.
Ruth’s mom (Martha), when Ruby was two, was diagnosed with Tuberculosis and sent to a sanatorium in Weston at the time outside of Toronto. This caused a separation of the family with some of Ruth’s siblings going into care homes for a while until two of Ruth’s Aunts (Mary Mills and Bessie Clancy) stepped in to offer support for the children. Well it appears that there must have been some conjugal visitation arrangements at the sanatorium as Ruth would soon have another baby sister when Jo-Anne arrive. Due to the challenging circumstance of the family, the Government stepped in and Jo-Anne was immediately put into foster care. It would be two more years before the family was reunited with Mom/Martha being released from the sanatorium and Jo-Anne (at two) joining the family from care. These would be some of the happiest childhood years for Ruth but tragically they came to an end far too quickly. Ruth had a very special relationship with her little sisters, Ruby and Jo-Anne, as she was called upon to help providing the love and support only an older sister could provide.
Ruth was forced to grow up fast, due to the death of her father at age 44 (heart attack) and the fact that her Mother had continued health issues which prevented her from working to support her five children. At age 14, Ruth and her older sister Dorothy both quit school to begin working to help support this family. With the continued support of her two aunts, and with her mother in and out of the sanatorium, Ruth learned at a very early age that you do what you can to keep the family together and moving forward with whatever opportunity you can provide. Her dropping out of school early (along with her older sister Dorothy) when added to the help provided by her two aunts, allowed the family to not just stay together but to provide enough financial and family support to ensure that her three younger siblings could remain in school and even though they may not think so, enjoy more of a childhood and education that she would.
(Special thanks to Ruth’s little sister Ruby (Clancy) Shephard for filling in many of the above noted facts through her own story that she shared with Ruth and her family in 2012, for without this material much of Ruth’s early life may not have made it to this site.)
The year was 1942, Canada had been at war again for almost three years, when Ruth met her future husband (Bill / Willie Killin) and life partner at the Neilson’s chocolate factor, in Toronto, were we both worked. They did not share their marriage plans with colleagues as there was a tradition of dropping the future groom in the chocolate vat…to sweeten him up. Apparently it was love at first site for Ruth who, upon seeing this young man walking to work swinging his brief case, turned to a girlfriend and said “there goes my future husband”.
Ruth and Bill married young and soon Bill joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was given an assignment in Western Canada at the Tofino Air Station. This assignment would also became their honeymoon. They travelled to Tofino with their first child (Carol). Ruth’s home at this time was a tar paper shack on what is now Long Beach, Vancouver Island, which Bill had to help assemble as well as building some of their first furniture.
After the war ended Ruth, Bill and Carol returned to Toronto and lived with Ruth’s Mother and siblings. Bill went back to school, taking drafting at Ryerson (several decades later two of Ruth and Bill’s children would attend Ryerson University and today there are three “Killin Family” scholarships awarded annually to current students. Family, working & school made for a fully day.
Ruth & Bill would have 9 more children after Carol and raising them would become her full-time job while Bill worked in bridge and road design at the Ontario Ministry of Highways for 32 years. “Carol, Marnie, Donnie, Janice, Billy, Bobby, Johnny, Kenny, Allie, Eddie” must be said almost lyrically in under four seconds to have the full effect.
In 1950 Ruth and Bill would move to their own first house in Ajax, Ontario at 130 Exeter Road. A one bathroom, three bedroom house on a large lot that was close to parks, schools and churches. With 12 people (after the birth of the three little boys in 1957, 1959 & 1960) living in this little house it was an interesting family experience for all. If you asked any one of Ruth’s children “who was her favorite?” you would have each one of them confirm that “well it was always a secret but I was.” All of Ruth’s children would also come to find that whereas it was her job to deal out the discipline (at least until one reached the size that the wooden spoons would be broken) if anyone else dared to come after one of her kids (including teachers who did not understand the school marking system) they would soon discover how the Discovery channel got its inspiration for all those “Mother Bear protecting her cubs” shows.
Ruth and Bill found community in joining and becoming very active in their chosen church. The St. Paul’s United Church was a big part of their Ajax family as Ruth and Bill became one of the founding families of this church, that started north of what is now Highway 401, and eventually built a new building/home on King’s Crescent. Many a friend was met at this community church and their daughters (Carol, Marnie & Janice) met and married their husbands in this church. Ruth was an active member of the United Church Women (UCW) at St. Paul’s and after all her children had finally launched (Edward reluctantly being the last to leave finally once they sold the house) she would continue to be an active member of a group that would meet weekly to discuss church & Christian issues and world events.
It was in 1986 that Ruth and Bill sold their little 130 Exeter Road house (after 36 yrs.) and moving to a large condominium suite on Falby Court (the street got its name from a friend of the family).
Ruth would welcome with joy the choices her children made in husbands or wives (eventually perhaps in some cases) and in particular the births of 30 grandchildren and several great grandchildren with every one of them seeing how happy Grandma Killin was to see them when they visited. Ruth developed an interesting style when it came to giving advice to the parents of her grandchildren. She would wait until asked before just sharing a story about how she would handle a perhaps similar challenge with her kids. You never knew how smart Ruth really was until you had a situation as a new parent and became desperate for a real world solution.
Daughter of Gordon and Martha (Mills) Clancy Born August 29th, 1923 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia and died March 6th 2017
Ruth moved from New Glasgow (NS) to Timmins (Ont) where her Dad found work as a car mechanic and later had his own “ Clancy’s” garage. As a “small world” example, one of Gordon’s customers at the time would later turn up as the Minister for Ruth’s church in Ajax some 30 + years later. It was during these years, in Timmins, that Ruth fell very ill (diphtheria) and was at one point close to death. Perhaps Ruth’s condition was the straw as they say but her Mom (Martha) had a nervous breakdown, refused to eat, and was sent to a psychiatric hospital in Toronto.
These family issues became too much of a challenge in Timmons for Gordon who decided to move his family to Toronto, where he found an apartment for them above a pet shop “Crooks”. Ruth had three siblings (Dorothy, Gordie, and Bertha) when the family moved to Toronto and welcomed a new little sister (Ruby) who was born on the kitchen table and was called the cucumber baby by their Mom since “it must have been the cucumbers I ate for my morning sickness”. After Ruby’s birth the family moved into a house on Ossington Ave.
Ruth’s mom (Martha), when Ruby was two, was diagnosed with Tuberculosis and sent to a sanatorium in Weston at the time outside of Toronto. This caused a separation of the family with some of Ruth’s siblings going into care homes for a while until two of Ruth’s Aunts (Mary Mills and Bessie Clancy) stepped in to offer support for the children. Well it appears that there must have been some conjugal visitation arrangements at the sanatorium as Ruth would soon have another baby sister when Jo-Anne arrive. Due to the challenging circumstance of the family, the Government stepped in and Jo-Anne was immediately put into foster care. It would be two more years before the family was reunited with Mom/Martha being released from the sanatorium and Jo-Anne (at two) joining the family from care. These would be some of the happiest childhood years for Ruth but tragically they came to an end far too quickly. Ruth had a very special relationship with her little sisters, Ruby and Jo-Anne, as she was called upon to help providing the love and support only an older sister could provide.
Ruth was forced to grow up fast, due to the death of her father at age 44 (heart attack) and the fact that her Mother had continued health issues which prevented her from working to support her five children. At age 14, Ruth and her older sister Dorothy both quit school to begin working to help support this family. With the continued support of her two aunts, and with her mother in and out of the sanatorium, Ruth learned at a very early age that you do what you can to keep the family together and moving forward with whatever opportunity you can provide. Her dropping out of school early (along with her older sister Dorothy) when added to the help provided by her two aunts, allowed the family to not just stay together but to provide enough financial and family support to ensure that her three younger siblings could remain in school and even though they may not think so, enjoy more of a childhood and education that she would.
(Special thanks to Ruth’s little sister Ruby (Clancy) Shephard for filling in many of the above noted facts through her own story that she shared with Ruth and her family in 2012, for without this material much of Ruth’s early life may not have made it to this site.)
The year was 1942, Canada had been at war again for almost three years, when Ruth met her future husband (Bill / Willie Killin) and life partner at the Neilson’s chocolate factor, in Toronto, were we both worked. They did not share their marriage plans with colleagues as there was a tradition of dropping the future groom in the chocolate vat…to sweeten him up. Apparently it was love at first site for Ruth who, upon seeing this young man walking to work swinging his brief case, turned to a girlfriend and said “there goes my future husband”.
Ruth and Bill married young and soon Bill joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was given an assignment in Western Canada at the Tofino Air Station. This assignment would also became their honeymoon. They travelled to Tofino with their first child (Carol). Ruth’s home at this time was a tar paper shack on what is now Long Beach, Vancouver Island, which Bill had to help assemble as well as building some of their first furniture.
After the war ended Ruth, Bill and Carol returned to Toronto and lived with Ruth’s Mother and siblings. Bill went back to school, taking drafting at Ryerson (several decades later two of Ruth and Bill’s children would attend Ryerson University and today there are three “Killin Family” scholarships awarded annually to current students. Family, working & school made for a fully day.
Ruth & Bill would have 9 more children after Carol and raising them would become her full-time job while Bill worked in bridge and road design at the Ontario Ministry of Highways for 32 years. “Carol, Marnie, Donnie, Janice, Billy, Bobby, Johnny, Kenny, Allie, Eddie” must be said almost lyrically in under four seconds to have the full effect.
In 1950 Ruth and Bill would move to their own first house in Ajax, Ontario at 130 Exeter Road. A one bathroom, three bedroom house on a large lot that was close to parks, schools and churches. With 12 people (after the birth of the three little boys in 1957, 1959 & 1960) living in this little house it was an interesting family experience for all. If you asked any one of Ruth’s children “who was her favorite?” you would have each one of them confirm that “well it was always a secret but I was.” All of Ruth’s children would also come to find that whereas it was her job to deal out the discipline (at least until one reached the size that the wooden spoons would be broken) if anyone else dared to come after one of her kids (including teachers who did not understand the school marking system) they would soon discover how the Discovery channel got its inspiration for all those “Mother Bear protecting her cubs” shows.
Ruth and Bill found community in joining and becoming very active in their chosen church. The St. Paul’s United Church was a big part of their Ajax family as Ruth and Bill became one of the founding families of this church, that started north of what is now Highway 401, and eventually built a new building/home on King’s Crescent. Many a friend was met at this community church and their daughters (Carol, Marnie & Janice) met and married their husbands in this church. Ruth was an active member of the United Church Women (UCW) at St. Paul’s and after all her children had finally launched (Edward reluctantly being the last to leave finally once they sold the house) she would continue to be an active member of a group that would meet weekly to discuss church & Christian issues and world events.
It was in 1986 that Ruth and Bill sold their little 130 Exeter Road house (after 36 yrs.) and moving to a large condominium suite on Falby Court (the street got its name from a friend of the family).
Ruth would welcome with joy the choices her children made in husbands or wives (eventually perhaps in some cases) and in particular the births of 30 grandchildren and several great grandchildren with every one of them seeing how happy Grandma Killin was to see them when they visited. Ruth developed an interesting style when it came to giving advice to the parents of her grandchildren. She would wait until asked before just sharing a story about how she would handle a perhaps similar challenge with her kids. You never knew how smart Ruth really was until you had a situation as a new parent and became desperate for a real world solution.
