Ruth Elizabeth Daniel

RUTH ELIZABETH DANIEL (nee CONWAY) Passed away peacefully at Carefree Lodge, Toronto, on Monday, December 1, 2008, after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Ruth, dear daughter of the late Dr. Harry Roberts and Darby Conway. Beloved wife of C. William Daniel, and loving mother of 4 children, David William and his wife Susan of Aurora, her twin daughters Colleen Elizabeth Sumner and her husband Gregory of Duncan, B.C. and Karen Louise Kelly of Cranbrook, B.C., her son Robert Conway and his wife Marlene of Madeira Park, B.C. She also leaves her sister Jane Gordon of Bracebridge, and eleven grandchildren and four great- grandchildren, as well as her 12 nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her sister Patricia Ann Horbay. Ruth attended Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute in North Toronto where she met Bill. Ruth was active in cheerleading and school sports. She received her registered nurse degree through the University of Toronto Nursing Program at the Wellesley Hospital, Toronto in 1946, where she was born in 1924. Her mother also trained there as a nurse. Following graduation she married William Daniel, in 1947, and they started out on a marathon, international oil industry career, living in 5 countries, the U.S.A., Canada (in and out of Calgary 5 times), Venezuela (1949-52), Trinidad (1963-65), and the Netherlands twice, 1949 and 1959. They moved residence 27 times in 40 years, and had 4 children under the age of 4, so Ruth was constantly re-establishing her home in ever new and complex surroundings. Ruth and Bill celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on December 27, 2007. A senior Shell executive friend once told Ruth and Bill that whatever success Bill has in his business career, more than half will be due to Ruth, and so it was. Ruth's greatest loves were her family, nature and the outdoors, their cottage life at Sylvan Lake, Alberta and Lake-of-Bays, Muskoka, Ontario, sports swimming (synchronized swimming team in Calgary), tennis, golf, sailing and all water sports. She spent the last four years at Carefree Lodge Nursing Home in North Toronto, where she was lovingly cared for. Her family and friends will all miss her. A celebration of Ruth's life will be held on Monday, December 8th, 2008, at Lawrence Park Community Church (Bayview Ave., south of Lawrence Ave.) at 2 o'clock. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth's name may be sent to the Nursing Development Program at St. Michael's Hospital, the successor hospital to Wellesley. Arrangments under the direction of the TRULL ''NORTH TORONTO'' FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE, 416-488-1101.