Ruby Ida Wilhelmiina Ainge (Pahkala, Laine)

The family of Ruby Ida Wilhelmiina Laine (nee Pahkala) is deeply saddened by Ruby’s passing on November 11, 2019 at the age of 80 years.

Ruby was born on October 28th, 1939 in Sudbury, Ontario, daughter to Werner and Alma Pahkala, and at the age of 10 moved to Saskatchewan to the Pahkala homestead in New Finland.  Ruby was the only sister to four brothers, as an older sister had passed away shortly after birth. 

Ruby attended Nurmi Oja school in New Finland, and later completed her grade 12 in Vancouver. She was confirmed and married at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Finland.

Ruby was cherished by her parents Werner and Alma, and her brothers, Clarence, Ray, John Robert and the youngest Owen.  Throughout the years, Ruby was the glue that kept in touch with family.  She had a special relationship with each of her brothers, even though there was a large age difference and geographic distance between them all. Ruby will always be remembered as a loving daughter, wife, sister, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends.  Ruby spent most of her life growing up on the farm in Saskatchewan, then married to her school sweetheart Harley Laine, and moved with him to Vancouver, BC, and Port Alberni, where they began raising their children, Vickie, Scott and Bonnie. 

During their time in Vancouver, Ruby worked firstly as a telephone operator for BCTel, and later as a foster mom to over 40 children in their home.  Several of them are part of the extended family.  In 1972, the family moved back to Saskatchewan to farm the Pahkala family homestead.  Later they moved to the Laine farm and then bought the Kangas farm. During this time Ruby started working as a Cleaning Aid at the Esterhazy Care Home.  In 1984 she decided to go to school for her RN and completed her studies in 1986 in Regina at Wascana Institute. For many years, Ruby called North Vancouver her home, and worked at Lions’ Gate hospital as an RN in many areas of the hospital, including the surgical ward, palliative care, and was an enterostomal nurse.  She had her family close by including brother Clarence, her aunties Ina and Stella Pahkala, brother Ray Pahkala and family, daughter Vickie and grand-daughter Leah, daughter Bonnie, husband Derek, grandson Matti and granddaughter Jenna, before they moved to Victoria.  Ruby worked at Lion’s Gate Hospital for 16 years until her retirement in 2003. 

Ruby made many trips to visit son Scott and family in Edmonton and loved to travel with family members including Disneyland, Hawaii, Ottawa, Halifax and Saskatchewan.  She cruised to Bahamas, Alaska and visited Bonnie & family at their cabin on Vancouver Island every summer. She was fluent in Finnish, which was useful when she visited Pahkala and Jantunen relatives in Finland with daughter Bonnie and grandson Matti, in 2000. Ruby also made an annual summer trip with daughter Vickie and granddaughter Leah to visit her foster daughter Maureen & husband Andrew at their cabin in Tulameen.

She grew up in the church, but would say to family that she became a Christian as an adult at the Salvation Army Church in Vancouver. Upon returning to Saskatchewan, she attended the New Finland Church and later, the Esterhazy Pentecostal Church.  She regularly attended bible groups in Vancouver participated in helping out at the church that she attended in North Vancouver.  Anyone who knew her well, knew that she had a close relationship with God. She was an example to many in the way that she conducted herself in her life, her work and her personal relationships.  Her children thank her for that.

In 2015 Ruby moved to Victoria, BC. to be near her daughter Bonnie, husband Derek, and grandchildren Matti and Jenna.   She lived in an independent living Senior’s building.  Ruby enjoyed this thoroughly and made many friends while participating in daily activities. She always said how happy she was there and was described as kind and friendly to all. The family is grateful for the all the special times spent together with Grandma in North Vancouver, Victoria and Edmonton.

Ruby was predeceased by her husband Harley, her brother Raymond Pahkala, and her grandchildren Jordan and Jenna Mahar of Edmonton.  Her oldest brother Clarence ‘Vern’ Pahkala passed away in December 2019, and recently her brother John Robert Pahkala of Winnipeg in August 2021.  Ruby is survived by her children: Vickie and granddaughter Leah (Fraser) Mittlestead of North Vancouver, BC; Scott (Karen) and granddaughters Kaitlyn and Alanna of Edmonton, Alberta; Bonnie (Derek) and grandson Matti and granddaughters J., Romina F. (Grant and Soren) and Francesca F. of Victoria, Toronto and Vancouver, BC; Ruby’s brother Owen Pahkala (Carol) of Hinton, AB, many nieces, nephews and cousins across Canada & the USA.  Ruby is deeply missed and will be forever in our hearts.