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By Mel Stefaniuk On Dec. 3, Beausejour resident Jean Ruchkall joined the centenarian club as she celebrated her 100th birthday. Born Jean Chmielnicki to parents Lawrence and Mary in Melrose, Mani toba in 1914, Ruchkall lost her father at a young age, which left her mother Mary to raise her and her seven brothers and sisters by her self. Her mother’s support of the large family instilled in Jean a work ethic which would keep her constantly active over the following decades. In 1934, Jean met and married her husband Frank and they quickly settled down on the Hazelridge farm where they would spend the next 60 years of their lives until his passing in 1994. Not only did Jean have her hands full raising four children, everyday she did the chores associated with all of the cows, chickens and pigs that called the farm their home. It was a 24/7 job. “I had enough work at the farm, I never needed to look for more anywhere else,” Ruchkall said with a laugh. Jean vividly remem bers the time in 1949 when Hydro workers rode out to install electrical lighting on the farm, each building on the property suddenly being able to be lit up with the flick of a finger. “All of the neighbours going by would see the whole farm shining bright at night and say, ‘wait, where'd all this light come from?’” Ruchkall said. If the first half of her life was dedicated to running a farm and raising a fam ily, the second is when she decided to reap the rewards that came from all of that hard work. In 1980, she and her husband travelled on their first big trip to Cuba with her daughter Mary Jane Stefansson. “My parents had never seen a palm tree so I thought it was time,” Stefansson said. That trip sparked a love of travel which would con tinue over the next 30 years. With family in Vancou ver, Cleveland and Detroit, Ruchkall found herself fly ing out to visit as often as she could. In 1999, at the age of 85, she and members of her family embarked on a transatlantic cruise which took them from Jamaica to Florence. That wasn’t the end of her travelling either. At the age of 93, she took another major trip with her family, this time to the Dominican Republic. “That trip to the Do minican Republic was at the end of December and I can remember my mother lying on the beach saying ‘I wouldn’t mind staying here all winter,” Stefans son reminisced fondly. Now a resident of East Gate Lodge, Ruchkall’s life hasn't slowed down much as she remains a beacon of popularity. In Novem ber alone, three different birthday parties were held in her honour to accommo date all of the fiends and amuly who wanted to wish her well. Friends and family weren't the only ones to recognize her birthday. She received plaques from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Governor General David Johnston and even Queen Elizabeth honour ing the occasion, which now decorate her room to remind her of a century well-lived. Photo by Mel Stefaniuk Jean Ruchhall had several birthday parties in November to accomodate all those who wanted to celebrate with her.
Newspaper Details
Beausejour Clipper Weekly
Beausejour, Manitoba, CA
Thu, Dec 11, 2014
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Yvonne M.
CA 29 May 2026
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