It is with great and deep sadness that we announce the passing of Ruth Barbara Wesioly (nee Buffie), 92, on April 28, 2021.

Ruth (Ruthie to her loved ones) was a lovely and beautiful woman, with a keen spirit and a strong faith who positively touched everyone she met. She was a pillar of love and strength to her immediate family and to the Buffie family at large.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ruth had a twin brother, Rudy, as well as 15 other siblings. Throughout her childhood and teen years, times were difficult yet loving. Work on the farm to make ends meet was hard but the Buffies were always there to support one another.

She met her devoted husband, Stephen (pre-deceased in 2020), at the High Spot restaurant in the north end of Winnipeg. After their courtship, they married in Toronto in 1952 where they then settled to raise a family. They had two children Bill (Gemma) and Barbara (Greg) and she was a loving and dedicated mother and homemaker to her family. She also was hugely dedicated to her two grandchildren, Matthew (Leah) and Brittany (Adam) and also truly enjoyed her two great grandchildren Oliver and Madelyn.

Traditions were central to Ruth’s life, and many Christmases, Easters, Thanksgivings, anniversaries and birthdays were spent with her family enjoying food, wine and laughter. Ruth took an active role in celebrating these traditions, cooking and baking her signature specialties - Christmas fruit cake, shortbread cookies, Easter kuchen and nut roll and of course, her superlative apple pies.

Ruthie enjoyed decorating her beautiful home, going out on shopping trips, playing her daily bingo cards and most of all, socializing with her friends and family. She was also a volunteer speaker to nursing students and individual patients, sharing her own experience after recovering from Ileostomy surgery due to Crohn's disease.

Ruth instilled in her family the enduring values of courage in adversity having overcome many difficult circumstances in her own life as well as loyalty to family and community. She was steadfast in her Lutheran faith and, as a founding member of the Advent community, she was a regular participant in Sunday services with her husband Steve by her side. Hymnal in hand, she loved nothing more than to add her voice to the chorus of her fellow church-goers.

Always a striking presence, Ruthie loved nothing more than to descend on a crowd in a crisp, white blouse and pearls, hair coiffed just so, administering huge hugs to everyone. Direct, and sometimes unsparing in her commentary, Ruth wore her heart on her sleeve and was alternatively feisty yet soft-hearted and kind at the same time.

Along with her immediate family, Ruth also leaves behind her Buffie sisters in Winnipeg - Rosemarie, Joyce and Marlene; her many adored nieces and nephews and her special friends including all those at Advent Lutheran Church and at Amica Bayview Retirement Home.

The family would like to thank the palliative care team at North York General and all of the incredibly special caregivers who treated Ruth like their own mother.

Ruth is resting at York Funeral Centre where there will be a private family service. There will be a celebration of her life when circumstances permit.

In lieu of flowers, donations to North York General Hospital – Palliative Care or to the Advent Lutheran Church in Toronto would be appreciated.