ELLA MARY CARRUTHERS

Ella Mary Carruthers, 77, of Emo, Ont., passed away Sunday, March 28, 2004 at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, Ont.
She was born Nov. 25, 1926 in Emo to Melvin and Winnie French. She was raised in Emo and after high school, attended Normal School in Thunder Bay. She taught in schools throughout the district for 40 years, at first as a full-time teacher and later as a substitute teacher.
She was united in marriage to Albert Carruthers on Aug. 18, 1947 and together they had 12 children.
She worked for many years with home care through the Red Cross and had also cleaned for the Fairway Store. She also operated the Pizza Pantry on Front Street in Emo for many years.
Ella was famous for her homemade buns that she had available for customers, receptions, and functions.
Ella was a member of the Women’s Institute, the Emo Hospital Auxiliary, and the Emo Fair Board. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and could be found at dance recitals, hockey games, and school concerts supporting her family.
In 2003, she was very proud to be selected as Senior of the Year for Emo for her years of service to the community. Ella was a generous women who was constantly helping family and friends, and enjoyed visiting with everyone.
Ella leaves behind her 11 children, Vivian Callaghan (Ed Kivimaki) of Fort Frances and her son, Kurt Callaghan; Gerald (Carol) of Lethbridge, Alta. and children, Carrie, Kellie, Penny, and Danny; Jim (Kay) of Fredericton, N.B. and son, Pat; Mary (Bruce) Martin of Fort Frances and their children, Michael, Sonnie, and Brittany; Norma (Wes) Blight of Sleeman, Ont. and their children, Shauna (Andreas) Runesson, Trina Blight (Kyle Langlais), and Fred of Mississauga, Ont., and his daughters, Jody, Amanda, and Vanessa; Dave (Diane) of Thunder Bay and their children, Mike, Al, and Melanie; Nancy (Don) Rivest of Gillam, MB and their children, Kyle, Erin, and Dena; Dianne (Russ) Nordstrom of Devlin and their children, Ashlee and Cory; Karen (Andrew) of Toronto; and Brian (Wanda) of Markstays, Ont. and their children, Breanna, Travis, and Dylan.
Also surviving are her brother, Willard French; as well as numerous great-grandchildren; brothers- and sisters-in-law; and nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, Winnie and Melvin French; infant daughter, Susan; grandson, Christopher Scott; brother, Edwin French; sister, Iva Brown; twin brother, Elmer John as an infant; and son-in-law, Tim Callaghan.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, March 31, 2004 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Knox United Church in Emo.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 1, 2004 at 10 a.m. at Knox United Church in Emo, with Rev. Barbara Miller officiating.
Cremation will take place at Riverside Crematorium in Thunder Bay, Ont., with interment in the Chapple Cemetery at a later date.
The pallbearers will be her grandsons, Kurt Callaghan, Kyle Rivest, Andreas Runesson, and Kyle Langlais, and friends, Larry Kellar and Nevin Bonot.
The honourary pallbearers will be Glen Cameron, Annie Advent, Jim and Liz Wilson, and Karen and Ed Kuitunen.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to Emo Knox United Church Building Fund, Canadian Diabetes Association, or the Emo Hospital Auxiliary Projects Fund.