Webber (Russell), Ruby Marguerite – of Upper Lakeville, Nova Scotia, peacefully passed away at 95 years old on April 11, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Ruby was our Mom, Nanny, and Nanny 2 Shoes, and we would like to tell you a little about her incredible life - well lived - in “the best part of the best part of the world”.
Ruby was born in Clam Harbour, Nova Scotia, to Roy and Hazel Russell. She was one of five children, the eldest daughter, sister to Sheila (Watkins), and had three older brothers, Bruce, Royce and Burris “Bub”.
Ruby spent her first 11 years of life on the old homestead in Clam Harbour without indoor plumbing and electricity for at least 8 of those years. She told us stories about the two-seater outhouse, the chamber pots under the beds, Simpsons catalogs for toilet paper and oil lamps for light. She also told us about fun times, coasting with her siblings, catching smelt in the brook and building camps in the woods. She shared memories of Sunday picnics and fun with family. In 1942-43 Ruby and family moved to Eastern Passage while her dad worked at Imperial Oil. She remembered this time fondly for the friendships she made, however, she also talked about caring for her ailing mom. In 1944 the family moved back to Clam Harbour and that is when Ruby’s next chapter took off.
As a young woman of 16, Ruby was working on her grade 11 and needed to leave the community to continue her schooling. She traveled by car, the lone local taxi in fact, from Clam Harbour to Oyster Pond to attend school and that is how she met the love of her life, Ellis (he was the driver). They apparently knew quite quickly that they would be married but needed to wait until she was 19 and had her parent’s permission. The two married in 1950, and Ruby became a wife and a mom. She had three children, moved to Dartmouth where she and Ellis built a home around themselves (literately living in the basement while building the upper floors) and raised their family all while operating an Oil Distributer Business from the early 1950’s until 1970.
By all accounts these were busy years. Always determined, independent and hard-working she taught herself to drive (pulling the car in and out of the driveway), worked the oil phone, kept the business’ books and raised her three children. She hosted Saturday night card games with friends, experimented with brew making (resulting in explosions under the bed), enjoyed family camping trips across the country and trips to the ocean with the kids piled in the car.
In 1970 Ruby and Ellis moved back to the Eastern Shore to Upper Lakeville, Lake Charlotte where they built and operated E&F Webber Lakeside Park, an extremely well-loved campground that remains in operation and in the family today. In the 70s and 80s grandkids came along and Mom became Nanny promptly spoiling all rotten. She had a campground store and sold ice cream and penny candy – no one went without. Winters were spent on skidoos and sleds and summers on pedal boats and by the campfire roasting marshmallows.
Nanny’s life was not without challenge. She lost her mom at the young age of 21 and lost her husband when she was just 59. But she kept going, finding purpose and joy in life. Her strength and resiliency were some of her strongest lessons to our family.
Nanny was on the go - she was an avid card player, a solid technical bowler, a scrabble aficionado and an extremely competitive crib player. She was a long-term member of the Rebekah Lodge, member of the Harbour Lites Seniors Club for over 30 years and a dedicated member of Saint James Anglican Church, active in the Altar Guild and treasurer for almost 40 years. Nanny enjoyed genealogy and volunteered many years and much time at Memory Lane Heritage Village, working in the Eastern Shore Archives. She was a well-known member of the Eastern Shore Community.
In 2005 Nanny became a great-grandmother and shortly thereafter in a moment of laughter trying to find her shoes that had disappeared under the couch she was renamed by her eldest great-grandchild “Nanny 2 Shoes”. Nanny 2 Shoes’ pride for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was ever present. She was always sharing stories, teaching us card games, skunking us at crib, and sharing time at the lake. Our family will cherish memories of her sledding through the campground, the time she roasted a chicken in a hole at the end of the driveway over an open fire in the aftermath of Hurricane Juan, weekly Sunday dinners with apple pie for dessert, countless campfires and visits to the beach and time hanging out in the campground store.
Our adored Nanny 2 Shoes was a loving wife, friend, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was determined, strong, smart, had a great sense of humour, and above all else was dedicated to her family. She was a social being and was forever grateful, seeing all the good in the world around her. She taught us to be resilient, to take things in stride, to find the joy in life, and to keep moving forward. She lived life to the fullest, devoted to family, friends and community. Nanny 2 Shoes will always be with us in our hearts and memories but not seeing her on her swing at her yellow house in front of the campground will be hard.
Nanny 2 Shoes was predeceased by her husband, Ellis; and her brothers, Bruce, Royce, and Burris “Bub”. She leaves behind a large and loving family including her sister, Sheila (Watkins); her lifelong dear friend, Bernice; her children, Karen (Jim) Dalling, Alan (Deb) Webber and Robin (Marilyn) Webber; her grandchildren, Jim Dalling (Laura Hegge), Kelly (Daryll) Cowper, David (Grace) Webber, Chad Webber, Wade (Mayanda) Webber, Alena (Trent) Christie, Kari Webber (Jeff Evans), Megan (Nick) Pettipas, Greg Webber (Crystal Gauthier); and her great-grandchildren, Mya and Eli Cowper, Luella and Ellis Dalling, Lloyd and Ruby Pettipas, Grady and Rowan Webber, Levi and Jacob Webber, and Adalyn Evans, and, her expected 12th great-grandchild anticipated to arrive this spring.
A service will be held on April 29, 2026 at 11 a.m. in Saint James Anglican Church, Upper Lakeville Road, followed immediately by interment and a reception at the cookhouse in Memory Lane Heritage Village.
Our family would like to thank all the Northwood Home Care workers who helped care for Ruby/Mom/Nanny/Nanny 2 Shoes and made it possible for her to stay in her home until this year. We also want to thank the staff of Northwood’s Ivany Place in Bedford for the amazing care they provided while she was there. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint James Anglican Church, 471 Upper Lakeville Rd, Head of Jeddore, NS B0J 1P0; the Northwood Foundation or a charity of your choice.
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