Margaret Ruby 聽November 12, 1928 - August 18, 2016. Ruby passed away peacefully in her bed at Battleford District Care Centre and is now at home in Heaven with her loved ones who went on before her. She was predeceased by her parents: Thomas Earnest Hallam & Elsie Mae McCready; Husband Peter Hrabia, Infant son Thomas, Sisters: Joyce Hallam & Gladys Hallam; Brothers: Lloyd Hallam and Spencer 鈥楤ud鈥� Hallam. Survived by her son, Lorne (Wilma); Grandson, Bradley (Shandra) Hrabia; Great-Granddaughters: Bella & Zoey; Son, Tim (Grace) Hrabia; Sister, Geraldine (Jake) Gerlach; Brothers: Doug (Diane) Hallam, Frank (Karen) Hallam and numerous nieces and nephews. Service of celebration for the life of Ruby Hrabia was held on Tuesday, August 23rd, 2016 in 鈥淭he Garden Chapel鈥� - Battlefords Funeral Service in North Battleford, Saskatchewan with Major Gary Reilly of the Saskatoon Salvation Army Corps - Saskatoon officiating. Soloist Bob McKay sang 鈥業t is Well With My Soul鈥�. The pianist was Joan Harrison. Active Pallbearers were: Lorne Hrabia; Bradley Hrabia; Garry Wappel; Joseph Wappel; Bruce McNabb & Jake Gerlach. Honorary Pallbearers were: Lou Janzen; Bev Brundige & Marion Cramatte. The eulogy was given by her son Lorne Hrabia: Ruby Hrabia was born and raised on the farm near Limerick, Saskatchewan, weighing only 4lbs at birth and was born with a 鈥榗lub foot鈥�. Her mom and dad had to place her in a shoebox on the wood stove oven door and feared she would not make it, but after feeding her for a time with an eye dropper she finally began to strengthen and survived. In later years Ruby went on for training as a Nurses Aid in Saskatoon and ended up with a job at The Union Hospital in North Battleford where she eventually met Peter Hrabia and the two were married on February 16, 1950 in the North Battleford Salvation Army Corps. Ruby and her husband Peter, built and managed Sunnyside Food Center in North Battleford for a number of years. Many people commented on the store鈥檚 Dari-Bar where they had their first ice-cream cone or burger & fries. The store also had a staff of over 20 people and prided itself in free home delivery of bagged or boxed groceries. They also owned and operated a Laundromat next door to the store which was located at 991-109th street. Over and above all of this they also owned 4 duplex rental units; 3 quarters of farmland & 1 commercial building that used to house Ralph鈥檚 Red & White Grocery Store on the city鈥檚 west side. Ruby helped out with the Salvation Army Thrift Store at the back of the church building for a number of years, while both of them helped out with the Empty Stocking Fund at Christmas time and the Red Shield Appeal as well. Ruby liked to watch the Toronto Blue Jays play baseball while sitting at the kitchen table visiting or playing cards with family and friends. After the passing of her husband she lived in Tower Two of the Battleford鈥檚 Housing Authority until she was moved into the Battleford District Care Unit in March of this year, where she remained until her passing. Any donations to the memory of Ruby Hrabia may be made to the Battleford District Care Centre 鈥淗ands of Friendship Auxiliary.鈥� Box 69, Battleford, SK 聽S0M 0E0. Arrangements were entrusted to Battlefords Funeral Service.
Card of Thanks
The family of Ruby Hrabia would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all who spoke words of sympathy at the passing of our Mother, Grandmother & Great-Grandmother. Also, to Mr. Bob MacKay and the staff at Battlefords Funeral Service for your loving care and service. Finally to the nurses, staff and doctors who treated and looked after mom on Ward 3 at the Battleford District Home Care Centre. Your friendliness and kindness will long be remembered by those of us who interacted with you.
