Obituary
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Ruth Mary Funk (Wheeler, 1942-1949) by her sister, Pat Grainge (Wheeler, 1944-1952)
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Ruth was born on 23rd April 1932 and the family home was in East Bergholt, close to the River Stour at Flatford. For about one to two years before attending East Bergholt School, Ruth was taught by nuns at the Benedictine Abbey in the village. She entered the Preparatory School at Grey Friars in form Lower III in the summer term of 1942 and was a pupil at CCHS until 1949, spending her final year in the newly formed Lower Sixth Home Science Group and obtained her Certificate in Housecraft. The Home Science course brought together her practical abilities. Ruth delighted in learning new skills and techniques not only in cooking but also needlework, upholstery and household management. For a time in the fifth form she was in the school netball team.
From an early age Ruth was fascinated by the plants, animals and birds she saw each day and would learn all about them. Trees, mossy banks, hedgerow flowers - and frogspawn from the nearby pond carefully put into a large jam jar (hopefully to see tadpoles emerge!) - were all part of the excitement; she would study and sketch them. The world of nature was hers to discover.
Nursing had always been her chosen career and she was accepted by St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London starting her nursing training at the age of 18 in May 1950. Of course she found it difficult at times but knew it was what she wanted to do: caring for the sick and injured, learning more skills and increasing her medical knowledge. She qualified as a State Registered Nurse in August 1953 and, following her four years course in both Theoretical and Practical Nursing, gained her St Bartholomew’s Hospital Certificate in June 1954. She stayed on at Barts for a few more months and then returned home.
For a time Ruth helped the Warden and staff at the Field Study Centre at Flatford and whenever possible would join the students on field trips. Sometime later she was asked if she would like to take temporary work at the local Doctors’ practice in East Bergholt and Dedham. She loved visiting patient in their homes, setting up an appointments system, babies’ clinics, etc; the temporary job lasted 7 years!
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Her desire to travel was always there and in 1963 she went to Canada to take up a nursing position at a hospital in Toronto. Ruth was fortunate in having relatives in Manitoba and a close family friend in Toronto and with her professional nursing training and experience she quickly settled into her new working environment. She had always enjoyed outdoor pursuits and whilst at Barts Preliminary Training School at Aldenham in Hertfordshire she learnt horse riding at nearby stables. Now during her first winter in Canada she learnt cross-country skiing.
A new and different way of life lay ahead when in the summer of 1966 Ruth went to nurse at Norway House Indian hospital in Manitoba (left). Norway House, formerly a trading post for the Hudson Bay Company, lies on Little Playgreen Lake, 20 miles north east of Lake Winnipeg and 500 miles north of Winnipeg - a vast area of rivers and lakes and a multitude of islands, many too small to be inhabited. It is the traditional homeland of the Cree Indians and is now known as Norway house Cree Nation.
Norway House Indian Hospital provided medical care for the Reserve (as it was referred to at that time). Transportation between the islands was by light aircraft or boat in the summer months, usually with outboard motors, and by light aircraft in the winter months, when the lakes and rivers were beginning to freeze - later to thaw (known as break-up) - suitably adapted for take-off and landing with either floats or skis. Snowmobiles and snowcruisers were also used.
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Provision had also to be made for a six month supply of all basic goods, dairy products, flour, tinned food, etc, and hospital medical needs, to be flown in from Winnipeg. (right: Ruth dressed for the Canadian weather)
When Ruth went to Norway House it was already well-established and seemed to be quite a self-contained community. As well as the hospital and the nurses’ home on the compound, there was an Anglican Mission, an RC Mission and a school. The Hudson Bay Company had quite a large building and a mooring bay for customers’ boats (no car park -there were no roads at that time!). There was a landing bay for the aircraft and the hospital had its own dock. The RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) were on a separate island and there was also an Indian Police Constable and, of course, electricians and engineers. Supply ships unloaded petrol and Ruth’s photographs show oil tanks for the compound and hydro-electric power lines and telephone lines. But it was a harsh environment and needed dedicated staff.
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In one of her earlier letters Ruth referred to a big bazaar being planned in the Curling Rink in aid of the recreation hall. With an organising committee of 40, various groups were offering to run side show booths, etc. Ruth and a fellow nurse ran the cold food booth - selling gallons of ice cream and pop, plus a few hundred sandwiches (if they could face
making that number!). The RC Mission, mostly French staffed, ran a French Pastry Shop “the Nuns make the most delicious pastries (we generally go and see them every fortnight and have a marvellous feast each time)”. The Anglican Mission ran the Bake Stall - both Missions being allowed to keep any profits for their own use. Ruth refers also to “Indian Affairs doing a display, a handicrafts display, and staff and the Hudson Bay Co. will demonstrate the latest snowcruisers (left) - an ambitious show for a small community. The Indians love anything like that and we have planned it on pay day ... and the Bay have been requested to get in extra cash for cheques that will be cashed, etc. Normally there is very little money passed here, everything is on account because we have no banking facilities.”
In the same letter Ruth wrote “I am working this weekend and have had a pretty busy day - we had two
flights going inland and they took out quite a few (patients) but also brought in some more. Soon after they had landed on the first flight a short sharp storm blew up and delayed the boarding so we had patients milling around everywhere, admissions and discharges getting muddled up and chaos reigned for half an hour. In the midst of that one of the mums decided to deliver so I had to run and cope with that little job, hoping that the wrong ones didn’t get on the plane - that has happened more than once and you can imagine
the panic that causes.” Sometimes Ruth would accompany an adult patient or take an infant for treatment in Winnipeg. On those occasions she would try to visit her cousins before returning to Norway House.
In March 1967 Ruth wrote more about her work. “”We have had a hectic week at the hospital with several emergencies, mostly obstetric, all of which I have had to escort out to The Pas (a town 130 miles west of Norway House) - three times this week - two of them dawn take-offs and one late afternoon. We are so short of all staff at the hospital and are at present unable to get any replacements, which adds yet another burden. Ann (another nurse) and I are trying to cope with the laboratory work between us but there are some things we just can’t do. This morning I flew out again at 7am but managed to get back here by 12.30pm - missed Church but in time to take my Sunday School which is still flourishing.” Wherever Ruth lived she would attend Church regularly. It was central to her life and upbringing and in being part of a community. Her eagerness to participate in many activities, her sense of humour and hearty laugh must have eased many difficult situations!
Soon after arriving at Norway House, Ruth met Ed Funk at weekly hospital meetings. Ed (right with Ruth) was the dietician and manager of food supplies for the hospital. Ed and Peter, his 7 year old son from a previous marriage, lived in an apartment on the compound and Peter attended the local school. Ruth and Ed’s interests in care and welfare, music and literature, cooking and outdoor activities were very similar - and they fell in love. They became engaged and were married in Winnipeg in March 1968 not returning to work at Norway House until 1970. Ed was a fourth generation Canadian of Dutch descent and his childhood home was at Steinbach, Manitoba, about a 35 minutes drive south-east of Winnipeg, and he had been brought up in the Mennonite tradition.
Ruth was fascinated by the Indian surnames she encountered: Ettawacappo, Musagon, Muskego and many more, and also the Indian handiwork and crafts: moccasin slippers made at Norway House by Annie Muminewatum, all hand sewn and beautifully embroidered, made of moose hide and deer skin. Annie also made Ruth a pair of mukluks - calf length boots made of moose hide, decorated with beading and topped with about 4” of white fox fur, with gauntlet mittens to match. Ruth loved the life at Norway House. In a letter written in May 1970 she wrote; “Well we now have break-up. It really came in a hurry in the end. Last weekend we worked on the boat and motor, the ice still remained in the big bay. On Sunday it started breaking so we got long pole and pushed the ice packs out and put the boat in water. Wednesday evening we had supper on an island in the lake - first time this year. Friday the Honda motor cycle arrived. Ed spent the afternoon getting that running while I was busy cooking for the Bake Sale on Saturday at the North School. Donna and I had organised it to help the local children in Grade 7 to get to Winnipeg for the centennial celebrations. Next month we are having another Bake Sale to raise pocket money for them having now made the fare money.” In the same letter a few days later Ruth added: “Well we have had two days of snow and howling winds, we hope that is the last for this season. Now it should get nice and hot!”
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After leaving Norway House Ruth, Ed and Peter moved to Winnipeg and other locations in Manitoba. Ruth worked with elderly and sick patients in residential homes and Ed took up a position with the Canadian Institute for the Blind. After retirement they lived in an apartment in Winnipeg and for several years spent about 12 weeks of the winter in Victoria on Vancouver Island. They also took holidays in Arizona, in Europe and came to England too. Ed died in 2014 and Ruth continued to live in Winnipeg doing what she had always done - living life to the full - giving practical help to neighbours, cooking for friends and baking for bazaars. She also loved taking long walks through the parks, seeing the flowers and the changing colours of the maple trees. Each season brought a new delight even the show and ice of winter.
Ruth continued to take holidays with her friends, again coming to England to see the family, touring Yorkshire and the West Country and cruising the Baltic. (Right - Ruth and sister Pat at Willie Lott’s cottage, Flatford)
Ruth belonged to the Mennonite Church in Winnipeg. Not long before she died a group of members from her Church and some from other Churches took part in leading an Alpha Course at the young offenders’ prison. A few of the young men were from the Cree Nation and at the end of the course one of them gave a card to Ruth which read “Thank you Kittimoose Ruth”. (Kittimoose being an affectionate Cree work for Grandmother.) She was so pleased.
Ruth died on 10th August 2017.
FOOTNOTE One of the many warm tributes paid to Ruth at the memorial service was from her cousin’s daughters who were quite young when Ruth first met them in Winnipeg. “As an adventurer and free spirit Ruth had come from England to be employed as a nurse in the northern Manitoba community of Norway House. Ruth brought an energy into our home that was always anticipated and appreciated.” They mentioned the new card games Ruth taught them especially enjoying ‘Draw the Well Dry’. Her enthusiasm extended to their friends who learned new skipping games as well. “Her thoughtfulness, energy and attention was greatly appreciated. With affection, we will remember and admire Ruth for her commitment to family and friends, her vitality and enthusiasm for life.
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