Obituary of Ruth Rilla Mae Koven
“There is A Time for Everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
And yet we also know that a Mother’s enduring love conquers all.
It is with heavy hearts that we, the children of Ruth (Rilla) Koven announce the news of the passing of our Dear Mother. Ruth passed away at the age of 90.
Proverbs 31:10–31 says that a noble woman’s price is worth far more than rubies.
Such was our Mother, a woman of unmeasurable value. Her heart, home, mind, and every fiber of her being was a beacon to guide us through seasons and activities of our lives. The firmament of her good, true and respected character were/are the sextants to which her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will continue to guide their unfolding seasons.
Ruth’s (Mom’s) home, Mom’s energy was always a place of warmth, certainty and comfort. Our home echoed with joyous laughter, intelligent discourse, limitless generosity and kind attitude and examples of life-long learning, open-mindedness, open-heartedness, grace and enduring love were the maps which our Mother instilled into our being. Mom’s energy and love swept like a warm summer’s breeze through her home and our homes – never without fail her enduring love for family, extended family, and friends never surrendered despite the challenges of life.
Throughout all the activities and all the seasons of her long life our Mother’s home was an open-door, wise council, and non-judgemental ear. Our Mother’s home was a place of welcome for family and large extended family, and friends’ gatherings. Beautiful music enveloped our home. Great literature filled the bookshelves. Echoes of reverberating laughter floated through the rooms and halls of our Mother’s home. These were activities and things which adorned our environment because of our Mother’s noble examples and enduring love. Our memories of her will always be a blessing to us her children, family, and extended family and friends.
Ruth is predeceased by her husband Joseph (Joe) Koven; her father and mother, Bill and Cora Smith; her sister-in-law Hannah (Honey) Smith and brother-in-law Samuel Koven; and her best friend, Joan Murchland. She is survived by her five children: Rose Koven-McLaughlin (Brian McLaughlin); Sharon Koven (Debra MacDonald); Shelley Koven (Kevin Fulton); and her twin sons, Bill and Matt Koven; six siblings Patsy Noddin (Moncton), Phyllis Colwell-Rose (Saint John), Jack Smith (Dianne Smith) (Oromocto), Peggy Meahan (Saint John), Bill Smith (Saint John) and Fran Bass (Dan Bass) (Saint John); She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Stephanie Kincade (Halifax); James Kincade (Fredericton); Brian Tremblay (Saint John) and Andrew Tremblay (Saint John), as well as her three great-grandchildren: Ava Galbraith (Halifax), Eden Kincade (Fredericton), and Isaiah Tremblay (Saint John).
Ruth is resting at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB (506-634-7424). A funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 2:30 pm from Brenan’s Chapel. Interment will follow in Shaarei Zedek Cemetery.
Donations in memory of Ruth may be made to Bobby’s Hospice and may be placed at www.BrenansFH.com.
