Lynn Mae Ruona

Lynn (Darlin) Mae Ruona passed quietly in the early morning hours of Friday, March 10, 2023 at the age of 88 after living with dementia for many years. She was predeceased by her husband, Peter William Ruona and survived by four children sons Murad (Patti) Ruona, Timur (Linda) Ruona and daughters Sunoma (Dan) Northern and Maija (Willy) Waschke; seven grandchildren -- Laine (Jeni) Ruona, Kyle (Alexa) Ruona, Kendall (Elliott) McNelis, Garrett (Kora) Northern, Hannah Northern, Brinya Waschke and Daelin Waschke; and six great grandchildren Walker, Gus and Mavis Northern and Holly, Emmy and Maggie McNelis.Lynn was born and raised in Minnesota where she graduated high school and Minnesota Business College. She worked briefly as a bank teller. She met the love of her life, Peter Ruona, while in Minnesota and they married in 1954. They lived a short time in New York before moving to Novato, CA in 1958. Lynn was a homemaker extraordinaire. She was a master seamstress, making most of her girl's clothes where they presented in fashion shows and she even made the cheer uniforms for the whole cheer squad when the girls were in high school. Lynn was also daring allowing the boys to have pet raccoons when young, though she wasn't too happy when they would find their way indoors and make a mess of things! Lynn and Peter Ruona, along with other Novato families were founding members of the Novato Aquanaut Swim Team in the mid 1960's and competitive swimming was a family activity and where many long-term friends were made.Besides sewing, baking, crocheting, knitting and quilting, Lynn also became a very accomplished artist and teacher of miniature models. She spent hours creating these small rooms, ultimately founding a club where she taught others. As her children grew older, Lynn worked for many years as a manager at Beverly Fabrics and at a medical clinic in Larkspur. Later in life, she moved a couple of times before returning to the Bay Area to be closer to her children.The family would like to thank the many caregivers who helped her in her later years. Your kindness and love will never be forgotten. She was easy to love as she was happy and always free with a smile to anyone around her making her a favorite to her caregivers. She will be truly missed. She and Peter are finally together again after 46 years.The family is planning a Celebration of Life on August 19, 2023. For information, please email maijaw@yahoo.com.