June 25, 1942 - February 3, 2021
Therese C.B. Rudiger (nee Leroux) of Campbell River, BC died unexpectedly in her sleep at the age of 78. She was at home with her husband Ian of 57 years.
Therese was born and raised in St. Paul, AB, the eighth of twelve children born to Jessie MacDonnell and Eusebe Leroux. She was a lively, creative child, self taught on the accordion by age 13, played music for her siblings to sing to and drew beautiful paper dolls.
Therese met Ian Rudiger when he moved to town from Lloydminster, SK to start a business. Love at first sight, the two were married in St. Paul on August 12, 1963. Their first child Phillip died soon after birth, a rocky start to their loving marriage. They continued to grow their family with Tina (1965), Rick (1967) and Sandie (1970). The young family made their way west, living for a spell in the Okanagan before settling in Campbell River in 1975, where 4 of her siblings already resided.
Here the family mostly stayed, with adventures to Lloydminster, SK, Saint John, NB and Comox, BC.
One year at Christmas, her grown up kids and husband gifted her with watercolour paints and a painting class. This birthed a love of painting that Therese enjoyed prolifically until her death.
Therese became a grandma in 1994. She loved her 4 precious grandkids and spent lots of time with them going on adventures, most notably their spring break Victoria road trips!
In 1980 Therese had a life changing conversion to Christianity which opened a whole new community of lifelong friends, learning, teaching, making music, sharing, and growing.
Her Christian community was very dear to her. She taught Sunday school, sang and played piano, supervised at a Christian school, brought music to seniors' homes, travelled on missions to Mexico and to Ghana, pastored a church in the Comox Valley, and was involved with Aglow.
As she aged, she mentored younger members of her church family and touched many lives.
She leaves a legacy of joy, love, acceptance, wisdom, kindness and engulfing hugs.
Therese is predeceased by siblings Alice, Cathy, Carrie, Rod, Dan, Marie, Vince, Sandy and Phil, nephew Rick, and her son Phillip. She is survived by her loving husband Ian; her children Tina (Zak), Rick (Christine) and Sandie; her grandchildren Tori and Josh (mom Jennifer), Lucy and Stella; her sisters Lillian (Jim) Perkins and Trudy (Bill) Perkins; brother and sister in-laws and many nieces and nephews.
There will be a celebration of life service when we can gather safely, and it will be announced at Therese's church and via social media.
Those wishing to send flowers are directed to a Go Fund Me account for Therese Rudiger which has raised money for a memorial bench in Therese's name on Campbell River's sea walk. Excess funds will be donated locally to a charity that benefits kids. Those wishing to express their condolences to the family can do so by contacting Matt LeBlanc at Gateway Foursquare Church # 250-287-8133.