Obituary of Bernie Ruddick

Ruddick – Bernie It is with hearts full of gratitude for his life, that we say goodbye to Bernie Ruddick, loving son, son-in-law, brother, cousin, husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather. Bernie was born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne in the northeast of England. Though he emigrated to Canada as an adult, he never forgot his roots. Part of a big, loving, Geordie family, he had infinite appreciation for the Laidlaws, Ruddicks, Fords and Cartwrights, who filled his life with laugher and adventure. As a teenager, he met his wife Lilian and considered himself lucky to have become part of another large, loving family. He shared countless happy times with the Holland, Fee, Alexander and Rutherford clans.

Geordies are known for being extremely friendly and social, and Bernie exuded both qualities. He was a champion of the Ukrainian community, a volunteer for many years at Parkwood Hospital, and a loyal supporter of Newcastle United Football Club for all his days. A friend to all, Bernie loved his weekly golf games with his work colleagues from Tru-Die, games that continued over the span of forty-five years. He could often be found having tea in his neighbour’s garage, helping a friend with anything and everything, or playing, watching or debating soccer stats with his grandchildren. While on a trip to visit his daughter in Africa, Bernie even managed to find a house in the desert where a group of soccer fans were watching a game. To his great joy, it was Newcastle United playing.

Bernie was a man of great integrity, who would never let another person down. He was our piano man, who loved music and playing for himself and others to add beauty and joy to their world. Bernie was grateful for the deep friendship of over sixty years that he shared with his best friend Alan Anderson, and for his brother, Geoff, with whom he shared a room until leaving their childhood home. Though one lived in Canada and the other Australia, they maintained a deep and abiding brotherhood that distance never strained.  Bernie and Lynn also travelled the world and since the 70s, shared many happy times with Deidre and Bill Walker, and Helen and Richard Foster. Bernie’s life was also made richer by lifelong friendships with the McDade, Johnson, Lambourne, and Doyle families.

Bernie was the loyal and loving partner of Lilian Holland (Lynn) since the age of seventeen, and he asked recently that Lynn return to the church in which they married, as “that was the start of such a happy life”. Lynn once climbed through her nursing dorm window to Bernie waiting below, and that was typical of their marriage- finding any way to spend as much time as possible together, cherishing music, travel, family and friends. Bernie was an extraordinary grandfather and managed to golf into late November with his grandson. They cheered to have such luck in a Canadian winter, but it was Bernie that made lucky things happen.

Bernie said not long ago, “What a wonderful life I’ve had. I’m a lucky, lucky man”. How lucky were we, to call this fine Geordie lad our own. Ta-ra well, pet. Forever in our hearts.

A memorial mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated for Bernie at St. George’s Catholic Church in Byron (1164 Commissioners Road West) on Wednesday, January 8, at 11am, followed by interment of ashes in Holy Angels Cemetery. A celebration of life for Bernie will be held at the reception centre at AMG Funeral Home (60 Ridout Street) on Sunday, January 26, from 2 - 4pm with words at 2:30pm. The family welcomes all who knew Bernie to attend. His family will bring Bernie’s ashes home to England to scatter in the North Sea.

Bernie and his family are grateful for the skill and compassion of Dr. Vincent, and Dr. Inculet, and the incredible nursing team at Victoria Hospital.

Arrangements entrusted to McFarlane and Roberts Funeral Home, 2240 Wharncliffe Road South, London (Lambeth), ON  N6P 1L1. 519(652)2020. On-Line condolences available through www.mcfarlane-roberts.ca. In memory of Bernie, donations would be appreciated to: Covenant House https://www.covenanthouse.org  or Verspeeten Cancer Centre https://lhsf.ca/our-foundation. And, of course, Bernie would appreciate it if everyone supported Newcastle United. Howay the lads!