Ruth Tupper-Spence-Surrounded by the love of her children, Ruth Olivia (Tupper) Spence passed away on Friday, March 23rd, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario. Mum was born on May 5th, 1937 in Lake George, Nova Scotia. She was the second eldest daughter of Thomas (1968) and Ella (Joudrey) (1991) Tupper and the seventh eldest child of twelve. Mum was predeceased by our father, Thomas L. Spence (1994), her parents, five brothers, Allison, Arthur, Mylon, Lawrence, Freddie, and one sister, Marjorie. She is survived by sisters Marilyn, Linda, Gail, Joan, and one brother, Roger; two daughters, Bonnie Lessard (Daniel), Levis, Quebec, Pamala Emerson (Bill), and son, John Spence (Michael) both of Ottawa, Ontario; six grandchildren, Chantal, Daniel, Jacqueline, Jamie, Joseph and Kristin; five great grandchildren, Anaïs, Lucas, Noah, Thomas, and Albert and many sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. As a very young woman, Mum helped to manage Rice’s Restaurant in Hantsport, Nova Scotia. Once married at the age of 18, she worked as a cashier at Sobeys in Fredericton, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia. She worked in three different positions over the years for Sears Canada Inc. in Halifax and Ottawa. As a military wife, she and our father moved our family to many destinations – one of her favourites being Werl, West Germany from 1962 to 1965. Mum was a master crafts person and could sew, embroider, knit, crochet, paint, upholster and decorate like a professional. In the early 1970s, Mum worked alongside our father finishing the interior of the house they built in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. Mum was a great cook and she always created a comfortable home for her family wherever we lived. A progressive thinker, she would gladly discuss world news and events with anyone. Mum believed in the importance of family and stayed in close contact with all of her siblings far and wide for as long as she could (and she had the phone bills to prove it!). Her love of family will endure. A private family visitation and cremation has already taken place. There will be no funeral at this time. A church funeral and a celebration of life luncheon will be held in Mum’s hometown of Aylesford, Nova Scotia in August of this year. Interment of ashes will be in the Morristown Cemetery, Nova Scotia at the same time. We would like to thank the staff at Robertson House, Ottawa for their care of Mum over the last eight years, the CCAC Palliative Care Team, and the amazing staff at the May Court Hospice for helping to keep Mum comfortable in her final days and hours. If so desired, donations in memory of our Mum may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation at www.heartandstroke.ca or by calling 1-877-882-2582 or to the May Court Hospice at https://www.hospicecareottawa.ca/donate.html or by calling 613-260-2906. You may leave your condolences and share memories at Hulse, Playfair & McGarry Funeral Home ~ www.hpmcgarry.ca.