Muriel Ross

Muriel Ross, one of the last grand dames from the East End of Fort Frances, has passed away at 90 years of age at the Queensway Carleton Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario with her family by her side on Saturday, May 23, 2015.

Muriel was born on a farm near Stratton, Ontario on March 26, 1925 to Tom and Myrtle Noble. She married Norman Ross on April 17, 1947.

Norman and Muriel spent several summers on Basswood Lake in Quetico Provincial Park raising their family, as Norman worked there as a Customs Officer. It wasn’t easy living on an island in the middle of the wilderness in the late 1950’s with no running water, no electricity, no indoor plumbing, no TV with five young children just starting school, but Muriel had the perseverance and determination to make life enjoyable and very memorable. She was a honest, hard working women who loved to go blueberry picking and playing cards especially her favourite, cribbage. She taught us all how to play in our early years and she enjoyed skunking us at every opportunity when we got older. Muriel was always up for an adventure. She enjoyed life to the fullest and made many friends along the way.

Muriel was predeceased by her husband Norman, parents Tom and Myrtle Noble, and brother Lloyd and his wife Shirley, as well as many of dad’s brothers and sisters.

She will be missed by all her children, Keith (Joanne), Jennifer (Tom) Graham, Alexis Ross Lussier, Robert (Dawn), and Brent. Her grandchildren, Rhiannon (Jane) Penchion, Tyler (Megan) Graham, Daniel (Genevieve) Lussier, Annick (Sabrian Page) Lussier, and one great granddaughter Marie-Kate Lussier. Her brothers Cliff, and Ken (Cindy) Noble. Brothers-in-law Sid (Eva) Ross and Gordon Ross and many nieces and nephews.

I was standing by my window

on one cold and cloudy day.

When I saw that hearse come rolling

For to carry my mother away.

I said to that undertaker

Undertaker please drive slow

for this lady you are carrying

Lord I hate to see her go.

Oh I follow close behind her

try to hold up and be brave

But I could not hide my sorrow

When they laid her in the grave

Will the circle be unbroken

by an by, Lord, by and by

There’s a better home awaiting

in the sky, Lord, in the sky. (A.P. Carter)

Happy Trails Mom until we meet again.

Memorial donations may be made in mom’s memory to the charity of your choice.