Ruth Batz

Our dear Mum and Nana, Ruth Batz, passed away peacefully, at 100 years old, with family by her side at Amica Little Lake retirement residence in Barrie, Ontario on July 17, 2022.  Ruth was a beautiful, courageous woman who loved her family deeply and enjoyed living by the maple forest, lake, birds, and wildflowers of God’s creation.

Beloved wife of the late Gary (d. 2021), her husband of over 70 years, and much loved Mum of Harold Batz (Margaret) of Edmonton, Patricia Roebuck (Jim) of Barrie, and Kathy Batz; devoted Nana to Paul Batz of Edmonton and Evelyn Rawlick (Rob) of St. Albert, Alberta.  Ruth will be sadly missed by her dear cousin Gisela Kaiser (Reinhold Herrmann) and their family of Dresden, Germany, wonderful neighbours of Banstock Drive, longtime friend Laurel Southern, and many friends of all ages in Canada and Germany.

Ruth was born in Plauen (Vogtland), Saxony in eastern Germany on May 20, 1922, the only child of Fritz Oswald Herold and wife Selma Herold (née Hiller).  She made friends easily and was loyal all her life despite the distances.

During World War II Ruth worked in increasingly responsible administrative positions and was always known for her attention to detail, diligence, and collegiality. After the war, she found her true calling in English-German translation and interpretation studies. In 1947, with the help of a friend Ruth escaped the Soviet Occupation Zone leaving her dear parents behind the Iron Curtain.  For decades Ruth regularly sent them packages of essential goods and treats that they could trade for necessities in the then German Democratic Republic.

Ruth perfected her English as a Court Reporter and Interpreter in the Courts of both the British and American Zones where she met her love Gerhard, later known as Gary, while working for the United States Military Government Court in Kassel, Germany; there they pursued their love of the law and justice.  Shortly after marrying in January 1951, Ruth and Gary left war-torn Germany with virtually nothing arriving by ship in this beautiful country at Saint John, New Brunswick.

Settling soon after in Toronto Ruth found work in the Magistrate’s Courts before staying home to raise their three children.  Ruth was a wonderful, nurturing mother who instilled in her children the values of creativity, hard work, loyalty, thrift, resourcefulness, and playfulness.  Ruth spent countless hours with her family walking, picking flowers and berries, observing birds and animals, doing nature crafts and fibre arts both around home and during vacations in Canada and the eastern United States. Ruth loved laughing, reading, listening to music, watching movies, and entertaining with her wonderful cooking and baking. She loved when Patricia read her the animal picture book: Mama, Du bist die Beste! (Mum, you’re the best!).

When the children were older Ruth returned to work as a Court Reporter in the Provincial Court (Family Division) in North York retiring in 1984 to travel with Gary in Canada and the U.S., and to spend more time with family and friends in Canada and Germany.   In 1990, Ruth passed the stringent requirements of the Canadian federal government to qualify as a German-English freelance translator.

The Bible verse that Ruth was given at her Confirmation of faith in Jesus Christ in 1937 became a life verse that she held very dear in her later years: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”  John 6:68 (Johannes 6, 68)

The family is deeply indebted to the wonderful, compassionate staff of Amica Little Lake especially Ruth’s loving care providers Kelsey and Tammy, the dedicated nurses, and Dr. David Boushy.

Cremation has taken place.

In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to make a memorial contribution to the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County or Hospice Simcoe whose staff provided invaluable support to the family.