Elizabeth Rutherford

Elizabeth Martha Rutherford (née Brewster)

July 15th, 1956 to October 16th, 2023

The story of Elizabeth Rutherford: Beloved wife to Bob, mother to Sam, and Dexter superfan.

Elizabeth was born to Harold and Lillian Brewster in Hamilton, Ontario. She spent the early chapters of her life on Jasper Drive, beneath the shade of her favourite maple trees, growing up with siblings Darlie and Victoria.

On August 25th, 1991, she married Robert Rutherford and remained in a beautiful marriage with him for the next 32 years. Her only child, Samantha (Godfrey), was born the next year. Nothing brought Elizabeth more joy than when Sam would sing for her her favourite song, “Feels Like Home.”

Many chapters of Elizabeth’s life involved her education career. She was an advocate for every student with which she worked, but she had a particular passion for her students with special needs. Elizabeth’s career reached its climax when she took the position of Principal of Special Education for the HWDSB, which she held until her retirement in 2013. 

Her post-retirement was set in Snow Road Station, outside of Perth, Ontario. Here, she enjoyed evenings playing cards with family and friends, caring for fur babies (Tai, Chi, Zhen, and Lily), and rainy afternoons binge-watching LOST and Survivor with her son-in-law Dylan.

On October 16th, 2023 Elizabeth’s story ended. But, it will certainly be told again by those lucky enough to have experienced her unstoppable force. Her future grandchildren will know of the love, passion, and ferocity in everything she ever did, and those defining qualities live on in her daughter.

Elizabeth’s life and story is summed up best by one of her favourite television characters:

“Don’t tell me what I can’t do!”

John Locke (LOST)

Just ask anyone who had the pleasure to meet Elizabeth, and especially anyone who told her something couldn’t be done.

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