Obituary of Grace McDonald RUBEN

1920 – 2017 No words on paper, no chronology of birth, marriage, progeny, or accomplishments can convey the essence of a woman such as Grace Ruben. If you never knew Grace, that is unfortunate. She would have greeted you with kindness, warmth, and graciousness. You would have loved her just as we do, the ones lucky enough to have known her. Who could not love someone who always put others before herself, never lost a sense of gratitude, and never complained, no matter how physically difficult the final years. Grace grew up in depression era Utah, forgoing a college education so that she could work and help support her family, including the siblings that she adored – her older brother Jack, and younger sisters Jeanne and Colleen. In the whirlwind of WWII, she left Utah for San Francisco. There she met a young navy officer, Bob Ruben, at the Treasure Island naval base where she worked. He commanded a landing ship about to leave for the Pacific front. In two weeks they were married, in four weeks he left for war, for a life time they loved and built a family. After her three children, Pam, Peter, and Rob, were raised and gone, Grace opened a store called Presenting Italy with no prior retail experience. It was a third floor walk-up apartment. What should have been a commercial disaster, became a success. It was partly due to Grace’s natural fashion sense, but mostly attributable to Grace’s own character. Customers came because Grace, by nature, tried to make others feel good about themselves. Grace was granted both beauty and intellect, but for all her gifts, she remained truly humble and kind. She felt the greatest honour she ever earned was the title bestowed upon her by her beloved young grandchildren: Good Grace Grandmother. Later in life, Grace began a relationship with her daughter-in-law, Connie. It would blossom into a remarkable bond. It was a tale of mutual love, support, and commitment that deepened as they worked through the cruelly relentless stages of Grace’s Alzheimer’s. Grace’s approach to life was painfully simple – be good to all, whether family, friend, or stranger. Goodness sounds trite but a life lived simply, but well, can inspire others. Grace had three children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She will always be in our hearts and our memories and will always serve as an example of the type of person we strive to be. A Private Family Service will be held at a later date. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Grace Ruben a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Park Memorial, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Calgary, AB, T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.