Obituary of Ruth Pauline Sawler

SAWLER, Ruth Pauline – Age 95, of Chester, formerly of Western Shore. Our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away with her family by her side on May 13, 2023.

Born September 5^th, 1927, Ruth grew up in New Cornwall, Nova Scotia with her parents, the late James and Matilda (Naas) Aulenback and her eleven siblings. At the age of 18, she married Gilbert “Honey” Sawler and moved to Western Shore where they raised their nine children. Ruth was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who dedicated her life to her family all while facing the daily challenges of living with epilepsy.

Ruth’s home was always full of children’s laughter. Once her children were grown, her door was always open for her grandchildren to stay as often as they wanted. Ruth had a love of music. She is remembered for singing, playing guitar and her extraordinary harmonica skills. She also loved bingo, frenchy shopping bus trips, and her monthly visit to Double Dragon for Chinese food. Ruth was a dedicated member of St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Martin’s River, and volunteered her time with many organizations throughout her life.

Ruth is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Linda (Jim) Leedham, Dartmouth, Paulette Sawler (Lester), Chester Basin, Debby (Clarence) Young, Western Shore, Susan Sawler, Western Shore, Doreen Nauss, Martin’s River, and Georgina Sawler, Western Shore; sons, Stanley “Buster” Sawler, Chester Basin, Gordon (Marjorie) Sawler, Martin’s River, Delbert Sawler (Kathy), Martin’s River; sisters, Jean Eisnor, Martin’s River and Marie Carver, Mahone Bay; nineteen grandchildren and thirty-two great-grandchildren. She will also be dearly missed by her friends at Shoreham Village Senior’s Home and her “bingo buddies”.

Besides her parents, Ruth is predeceased by her husband, Gilbert Harold Sawler; infant daughter, Betty Ann Sawler; great-grandson, Brandon Wentzell; brother, Gordon Aulenback; sisters, Jennie Wagner, Blanche Mosher, Irene Thompson, Mae Eisnor, Bertha Thompson, Dorothy Dauphine; two sisters in infancy, Christine and Mildred Aulenback; daughter in-law Dianne Sawler; son in-laws Warren White and Gary Nauss.

A public memorial service will be held on Friday, June 2^nd 2023, at St. James Anglican Church, Mahone Bay, beginning at 1 p.m., with Rev. Patti Brace officiating. A private family interment will be held in Western Shore Cemetery following the service at the church. The family will be hosting a public reception at Western Shore Fire Dept., #6412 Trunk 3, Western Shore, immediately following the private interment, to enjoy refreshments and share memories of Ruth. Family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, the public may make memorial donations to the I.W.K Children’s Hospital, Shoreham Village Continuing Care, Western Shore Fire Dept., or a charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home, 35 York Street, Bridgewater, where online messages of condolence and donations may be made by visiting www.sweenysfuneralhome.com.