With great sadness, the members of the Calgary Women’s Literary Club say their goodbyes to our longtime member and friend Ruth Hilland.
Ruth peacefully passed away on October 14th in her one hundredth year.
Since joining the club in 2006, Ruth served in many positions on the board. At the age of 88, Ruth served as the club’s president for her two-year term. Ruth presented on writers including Khaled Hosseini, Anne Lindberg, and PD James. For several years, Ruth generously invited club members to her home at Amica (now Verve), where we celebrated our annual Winter Party.
Ruth was a wise, interesting, elegant, and kind woman. As president of the club, she made everyone feel very welcome by standing at the entrance greeting members as they arrived. Within the library and outside the library doors, Ruth enjoyed socializing with members, to whom she became a close friend. Ruth was a “doer.” When the club needed a microphone system so everyone could hear the presentations, she quietly made it happen.
Ruth’s Icelandic heritage was shared and celebrated by other Icelandic members of the club. To many, she was like the gentle matriarch of the club.
Dorothy, Ruth’s assistant and close friend, helped the club throughout the years. Dorothy created beautiful programs for the Spring Luncheon and AGM, and she was Ruth’s contact person in the later years. Dorothy kindly provided the attached photo.
We will miss Ruth’s warm, calm nature and are grateful to have had her as a member of the club and as a friend.
Posted by Mooréa G.
Well said, Moorea. Ruth was the second member of the CWLC to welcome me (the first being Janet Samber, who introduced me to the club). She was the epitome of grace and poise. Ruth was also extremely persuasive, because it was she who persuaded me to stand (reluctantly) for the role of President. The CWLC meant a great deal to Ruth and she meant a great deal to me. RIP, my friend!