Helen M. Ruby

Helen Marie Ruby, age 90, of Pigeon passed away Friday, September 9, 2016, surrounded by her loving family at Scheurer Hospital in Pigeon.

Helen was born May 23, 1926 in Thurman, Colorado to John and Mary (Kuhns) Hoffman. On February 20, 1944 she was united in marriage to Joseph Ruby in Thurman. They lived in Colorado and Pennsylvania until permanently moving to Pigeon, Michigan in 1950.

Helen was a wonderful Mom and homemaker learning early the skills of cooking and baking. By age 15 she worked for an aunt cooking for her farm hands. Joe and Helen lived in Redding, PA early in their marriage, both working at a mental institution. In 1950 when they moved to Pigeon she became active in gardening, quilt making, and serving her church, Michigan Avenue Mennonite, teaching Bible School and Sunday School, and serving as President of the Ladies Sewing and Friendship Circle. Helen worked with her sister, Ethel, at the Dutch Kettle where her specialties were baking pies and making macaroni and potato salad for the Friday night fish fry. Helen enjoyed hundreds of short visits as she delivered Meals on Wheels to shut-ins for many years.

After her stroke in 2011 she was forced to give up on many things she enjoyed doing, but visiting with family and going someplace was not one of them. Her known Sunday afternoon call became a normal thing. "You're coming up aren't you?" and "Yes everyone else will be here." Helen never had much to say as family gathered in her small apartment but she enjoyed having them there while listening to all the things happening in their lives.

Helen is survived by her daughters Diane Maust and Delores "Dee" Esch and son-in-law Denny Esch all of Pigeon; six grandchildren: J Scott Maust (fiance' Kristen Volrich), Renee (John) Read, Tiffany (Chris) Jackson, D Chad (Sharon) Esch, Jeremy (Cindy) Esch, and Matthew (Lisa) Esch; great grandchildren: Brittany, Taylor, Nolan, Morgan, Hannah, Conner, Nicholas, Carter, Justin, Lauren, and Brooklyn; sisters, Ethel (John Dale) Gunden and Alice Albrecht of Bay Port; sister-in-law Dorothy Ruby of Albany, OR; and many nieces and nephews.

Joe, her husband of nearly 68 years, preceded her in death, as well as son-in-law Joe Maust; sister and brother-in-law Ida and Eric Johnson; brother-in-law Lyle Albrecht; and the Ruby family siblings: Emma (Aaron) Riemenschneider, Walt Ruby, Marie Ruby, and Edith (Leon) Swartzendruber.

Funeral service will be held at 11 o'clock Monday, September 12, 2016 at the Michigan Avenue Mennonite Church with Pastor Scot Wilson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Gifts in Helen's memory may be made to the Michigan Avenue Mennonite Church WMSC Ladies Sewing Circle or Meals on Wheels.

VISITATION AT MEYERSIECK-BUSSEMA FUNERAL HOME:
Sunday, September 11. 2-8 p.m.
AND AT MICHIGAN AVENUE MENNONITE CHURCH:
Monday, September 12. 10 a.m. until service at 11 a.m.