RUBY MARY FRIDAY

Our dearest mother, Ruby Mary (Whalen) Friday, passed away Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998.
Mom was born Dec. 25, 1911 in Renous, N.B. but the family moved to Blackhawk and Stratton, Ont. in the 1920s. She attended elementary school in Stratton and high school in Duluth.
She entered the nursing profession in Port Arthur and graduated as a R.N. in 1934 from St. Joseph’s Hospital. Married to Donald Francis Friday on Sept. 30, 1935, they raised a family of three sons and one daughter.
Her faith, her family, and her sense of community were her core. She will be remembered for her volunteer work at St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Andrew’s Dew Drop Inn, and her active participation in the Catholic Women’s League and hospital auxiliary.
She tirelessly knit baby sets, sweaters, and mitts for the craft table. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were kept cozy with her “knit with love” sweaters.
We have been blessed with the love of this gentle woman who showed us a devotion to Mary, loyalty to family and friends, and a hint of irish determination.
To cherish her memory is her beloved daughter, Donna (Nick) Plichta; and her beloved sons, Paul and Tom (Kay). She loved her grandchildren, Michele, Don (Marie), Alison (Dale), Mark (Nadene), Murry (Heather), Paul, Michael, John, Tom, Janice, Corrine, and Jonathon; and her great-grandchildren, Tom, Joshua, Nicole, Ben, Sam, Katie, Mackenzie, Alexander, and Landon.
She also is survived by her daughter-in-law, Pat; sisters, Eileen (Terry) Armstrong, Gen Essery, and Gladys (Ted) Lynch; as well as sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and cousins residing in Thunder Bay, Fort Frances, and Atikokan.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Donald, and by her beloved son, Ron; her parents, William and Mary Whalen; brothers, Melvin, Henry, Joe, Bert, and Minard; sisters, Marie and Geraldine; and her daughter-in-law, Cecilia.
Her life’s journey was lived to the fullest. May God grant her His peace.
Funeral services for our dearest mom were held Monday, Dec. 7, 1998, leaving the Everest Funeral Chapel at 9:40 a.m. for funeral mass at 10 a.m. in St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church, concelebrated by Fr. Scott Gale, Fr. Edwin Merchant, and Fr. Michael O’Donnell, assisted by Deacon Fiori.
Prayers were offered in the Everest Chapel at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998. Visitation began after 6 p.m. Sunday in the Everest Chapel.
Pallbearers were her grandsons, Mark Plichta, Paul Plichta, Michael Friday, Tom Friday, Jonathon Friday, and Paul Essery.
Following mom’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, donations to St. Andrew’s Dew Drop Inn in care of Fr. Scott Gale would be appreciated.