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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
ADAMS, Alice Elizabeth (née RUTHERFORD) - With great sadness, we announce the passing of Alice (née Rutherford) Adams in the Victoria Hospice at Royal Jubilee Hospital. Alice died at the age of 101 years. She passed away peacefully in the hospice gardens with family by her side, holding her hands.
Alice was born on a farm in southern Saskatchewan. Raised during the depression, in a family that valued hard work and education, she learned early to be resilient, creative, and industrious. While a teenager, she attended Normal School in Moose Jaw then taught in a one-room schoolhouse. In 1942, at the age of 20, Alice enlisted in the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS) and achieved the rank of Petty Officer by the time of de-mobilization. She formed lifelong friendships with many "Wrens" who served alongside her. They endearingly called her "Ruddy" (short for Rutherford), a name by which she was known for the rest of her life. She credited these years in the navy for her remarkable self-confidence.
In 1946, she attended the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and earned a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts. Later, she attended McGill University in Montreal, on scholarship, where she earned a degree in Library Science. In the following years, she worked at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, and, hungry to see the world, began travelling abroad. On returning to Canada, she accepted a librarian position at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver.
In 1957, Alice married Noel Cresswell Adams of Langley, B.C. They moved to Ottawa in 1961 and raised three children. While the children were still young, she re-entered the workforce, first in public schools, then in the federal civil service. She worked at Energy, Mines and Resources, and later at External Affairs, where she enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a research librarian. Alice and Noel retired to Victoria in 1985, and settled in James Bay. Although a prairie girl at heart, Alice loved life on the west coast and rarely spent a fine day inside.
Alice remained active until a few weeks before her death. Her motto was "just keep moving." She travelled extensively and enjoyed hiking, swimming, and Scottish country dancing. She loved music, books, theatre, and films and was always inquisitive about the world around her. Although born into the horse and buggy era, she embraced modern technology and was fascinated by her iPad and the internet. She loved hearing other people's stories, made friends easily, and kept them forever. She valued service to the community, volunteered for many causes, and supported numerous charities. She was feisty, funny, and loved a good party.
She was extremely proud to be awarded the Bletchley Park Commemorative Badge in recognition of her wartime work in special decoding operations. In 2019, she was honoured by Parks Canada and the Royal Canadian Navy in a tribute at Fort Rodd Hill at Colwood in recognition of hometown heroes who had served on D-Day and during Battle of Normandy 75 years earlier. She humbly accepted on behalf of all women who served in the war.
Predeceased by her husband, Noel, Alice is survived by a large and loving family: her daughters, Katherine (Dan) and Nancy; her son, John (Lisa); her grandsons, Benjamin and Jonathan "Yoni" Schreiber and Michael and Greg Adams; her sister, Bea Flood; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
The family give thanks for the care Alice received at the Victoria Hospice; the kindness and compassion of all the staff and volunteers were exceptional. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Victoria Hospice at the Royal Jubilee Hospital: https://victoriahospice.org/.
As Alice wished, there will be no service; she never wanted a fuss made about her. A celebration of Alice's life will be held at a later date. (The Victoria Times Colonist 23 Aug 2023)
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