BASSINGTHWAIGHTE (Riopka), Ruth Lydia born Aug. 3, 1917 died peacefully surrounded by the love and light of her family. Ruth was predeceased by her husband Richard (1995), her parents Vasil and Marie Riopka, her brothers Andrew, John, George, Ben and Dan; sisters Mary, Alice and Francis. Beloved and missed, Ruth is survived by her four children: Linda (Vancouver), Janis (Charlotte Rochon), Saskatoon, Brian (Bev Dyck), Battleford and Carol (Mike Thibodeau) Nanaimo; her grandchildren: Robin Wilcox (Jennifer Schubert), Zane Wilcox (Kelly Chessie), Beth Bassingthwaighte (Brendan, Garnham), Daniel Coffey, Liam and Micah Bassingthwaighte; and her great-grandchild Levon Lewis Wilcox; her sister-in-law Marlene Riopka and many nieces and nephews. Our lovely and gracious mother Ruth was born near Glenside, SK; graduated as a nurse from Saskatoon City Hospital (SCH) in 1940 and met her husband Richard while working as an R.N. in Wilkie, SK. They made their home and raised their family in Saskatoon. She took considerable pride in her years of nursing service and formed meaningful life-long relationships with the women with whom she trained and worked. Later she and Richard owned and operated the Fast Car Wash Ltd. until retirement. She took great joy in her family, life-long learning, reading, current events and especial joy in caring for others. Her incredibly strong spirit, will and determination remained to her final days. She was a member of the SCH Nurses’ Alumni Association, Mayfair and Third Avenue United Churches, the Rambling Rovers Trailer Club and the Widows’ Support Group. The family wishes to express our gratitude and appreciation to the staff at the Prairie Spring Care Home where she resided for the final few months of her life, and to the nurses, staff and palliative care consultants at SCH who took such care with her final days. Particular thanks to the warmth and care Dr. Angela Baldelli provided over the past years. A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at the chapel of the Saskatoon Funeral Home on Saturday, January 20, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. conducted by Rev. Donna Wilson. A reception will follow at the Edwards Family Centre. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Saskatoon Child Hunger and Education Program (CHEP) or Interval House (Saskatoon) or a charity of your choice. Condolences may be emailed to: mail@saskatoonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Saskatoon Funeral Home. 244-5577.