Ring, Hilary

HILARY RING (nee Routledge) passed away peacefully at home with her husband, Len, at her side. 

She was predeceased by her parents, Joe & Marie Routledge and is survived by her sister Glynis Wood of Calgary, Len (her husband of 50 years), their sons Travis (Kayla) of Nanton and Scott (Kim) of Lakeside Montana.  She was also the loving and caring grandmother to Mason, Kelsie, Charlise, and Quaid. 

Hilary was born in Sunderland, England and home was Seaham Harbour, County of Durham a typical coal-mining town in northern England.  Marie and Joe were both veterans of the RAF in WWII and Joe was an electrician in the mine.  The stiff upper lip British mentality and the "Keep Calm and Carry On" attitude that Marie & Joe instilled in Hilary would come to serve her well during her life.  In 1955 they emigrated to Canada, first Joe and shortly thereafter Marie and the 2 girls.  Joe worked at the Palliser Hotel and the Chateau Lake Louise but then became postmaster at Lake Louise, where Hilary spent the majority of her childhood.  In 1965 they moved to High River where Hilary met her husband to be.  Hilary and Len were married in 1970 and moved to Lethbridge, later Taber.  In 1973 they moved to Raymond where they raised their family, moving back to Lethbridge in 1996.  

Hilary was an accomplished, seamstress, quilter, and needlepoint artist and many people have wonderful homemade treasures to remember her by.  But her greatest gift to the world was being a devoted wife and mother and later grandmother to those in her family.  For about 40 years she was a great hockey Mom to her 2 sons and grandson Mason, then transitioned to being a volleyball Mom to Kelsie and Charlise and a multi-sport baseball/soccer/basketball Mom to Quaid.  

In 1981 Hilary was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease but her wonderful British heritage never let that limit her.  She and Len loved to travel and she was able to return to England and Sicily to visit relatives and see her old original home as well as take a long-anticipated RV road trip to PEI and back.  She was able to cross those 2 and "get a Mercedes SL" off her bucket list.  

Hilary was a hero to many she knew and will be missed by all.  The girls from Raymond supported her all these years and she developed many warm relationships with the staff at the Movement Disorders Clinic in Calgary and more recently, the Wednesday group at the Bridges day program in Lethbridge.  

A Funeral Service will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 - 32 Street South, Lethbridge, on Tuesday, September 22nd at 11:00 A.M., with Wally & Alison Chinn officiating.  Hilary will be laid to rest in Mountain View Cemetery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, kindly RSVP your attendance to Cornerstone. Seating will be limited to 90 guests. Facemasks are mandatory and will be available upon entry.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson Association of Alberta, 120, 6835 Railway St SE, Calgary, AB T2H 2V6 or any other charity of your choice.