Obituary of Ruth Sylvia (Anstis) Fullerton

Died March 19, 2024, age 94 - peacefully in her home in Saint John, New Brunswick, where she had lived for almost 70 years.

Born June 8, 1929 in Birmingham England to parents Herbert Anstis and Ruth (Forrester) Anstis.  Along with her parents and older siblings, Margaret, John and Robert, Ruthie travelled from England to Canada on the Dutchess of Richmond, landing in Montreal on October 17, 1931.  The Anstis family settled in Midland, New Brunswick.

Ruthie loved the country life in Midland.  She attended one-room schools until starting high school in Norton.  An excellent scholar, Ruthie achieved the highest mark in the New Brunswick English matriculation in 1946.  At age 18, she began teaching Grades 1-8 in a one-room school in Passekeag, New Brunswick.  One day, quite early on in her teaching career, she reached into her desk without looking and put her hand on a writhing black snake placed there by one or more of the older boys in her class.  Whether or not this led to her decision that teaching was not for her we will never know, however, shortly thereafter, Ruthie commenced work at the Provincial Bank of Canada in Norton.

On July 2, 1949 she married her childhood sweetheart, Lloyd Edwin Fullerton, at the Midland Baptist Church.  Following their marriage, the young couple moved from the country to the big city of Saint John where Lloyd was employed as a carpenter and Ruthie worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia.  Subsequently, she was offered the position of customs broker at Hayward and Warwick – preparing documents to import fine china from the land of her birth to sell to the customers of “Hayward’s” the finest china store in New Brunswick.

In 1959 the Fullerton family moved to New Hampshire, returning to Saint John in 1963 to help her mother care for her very elderly father who passed away two years later, also at the age of 94.

Ruthie then worked as a bookkeeper over the next fifteen years, working at Seven-Up Sussex, the North End Medical Clinic and SGS.  She retired to look after her elderly mother and disabled brother.

Ruthie and Lloyd were members of the Victoria Street Baptist Church, Calvary Temple and in later years, RiverCross Baptist Church.

Together, they had many wonderful trips, mainly to Florida and Arizona.  They travelled south for several months each winter until Lloyd passed away suddenly while vacationing in Yuma, Arizona.

Ruthie was predeceased by her parents, and siblings, including her brother, William who died in England prior to the family immigrating to Canada.  She was also predeceased by Lloyd, her husband and love of her life on December 24, 2008, just prior to their 60th wedding anniversary. 

Ruthie is survived by her only child, Susan Fullerton and son-in-law, Edward L.D. McLean of Saint John, brother-in-law R. Winston Fullerton and his wife, Donna, of Moncton, as well as several nieces, nephews and wonderful friends she loved dearly – including Ellen and Wendell Hyde and others – you know who you are and we thank you for keeping in touch with Ruthie during her long and ferocious battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

During her later years, Ruthie was fortunate to have Robyn Howes as her caregiver, confidante and friend, and last year, Grace and Raymond Neopmuceno joined her care team.  We are exceedingly grateful to Ruthie’s wonderful caregivers who made it possible to remain in her home until the end and also, to Dawn Dyer, RN for her wisdom and kindness.

We are so grateful to Ruthie’s health care and social services team, especially Fiona Thornton, NP and nurse, Josh Bennett with NB Extra Mural and all the others who assisted Ruth in her journey thru Alzheimer’s.  Your wisdom, caring and professional support made all the difference.

Cremation has taken place.  The funeral service will be held from Brenan's Funeral Home Chapel (111 Paradise Row, Saint John (506-634-7424) on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 11:00 AM.  A private interment will take place in Midland Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to RiverCross Church or the Red Head Strays.