With heavy hearts, and smiles that recall uniquely cherished memories, we bid farewell to a lively and caring woman, Ruth Alison Grigg, who departed from this world on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. As we say goodbye to Ruth, let us remember the mischievous twinkle in her eyes, the caring touch of her hands, the feisty spirit that defined her, and the determination that made her an extraordinary nurse and advocate. May her legacy inspire us all to embrace life with the same zest, compassion, and fearlessness that she exhibited throughout her remarkable journey.
Born on February 24, 1947, in Vancouver’s Grace Hospital, Ruth (or Ruthie to her parents Johanna and Paul Twyford) brought spontaneity into the lives of those around her. From her early days, she displayed a spirited and independent nature that allowed her to keep up with her brothers Mark and Riley and her elder sister, Stephanie. In her Burnaby South high school yearbook, she declared her intention to become a nurse and was soon in England completing her nursing training. It was there that she met her future husband, David Grigg, with whom she married, started a family and returned to Canada as they embarked upon their next adventure.
While North Vancouver was always home base for the Grigg family, including daughters Nicola Furner and Alison Setton, Ruth’s restless spirit took the family to different homes on the North Shore. It was David’s job, however, that took the family to (then) Czechoslovakia for almost 3 years in 1980 before continuing her nursing upon their return to Canada. Ruth was not just a nurse by profession, but a determined advocate who stood up for the underdog, and brought her whole person to her work, such that many of her patients at Lions Gate Hospital and UBC Hospital would ask for her by name. In her later career she took on a new role of teaching MS patients about various drug therapies. Her commitment to the well-being of others was not just a job but a calling she embraced with passion and empathy.
Ruth was open to new ideas and loved to research health trends, food and vitamins, but her favourite pastime was bike riding with David and their friends including Leslie and Gerry, and Murray and Margaret. She also loved animals - and they loved her.
It is impossible to recall times with Ruth without at least one memory that brings up genuine laughter. She was not one to be held back or silenced by societal norms and while this sometimes led to some awkward interactions, it is also what created some deep friendships. Those who knew Ruth may have loved her or feared her, but in all cases, respected her.
Though her laughter may be silenced, her spirit lives in the legacy of all those she leaves behind, including her daughters Nicola and Alison, and her grandchildren Hayden, Hannah and Sawyer. She is also survived by her younger brother Riley Twyford and his former wife Brenda Senft who knew Ruth since she was 14, and many friends and former colleagues whose lives she touched.
A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held in the afternoon of March 31, 2024. Please RSVP to David Griggby email to davidkgrigg@gmail.com.