Ruby Valentine Smalling-Steer entered this life on September 30, 1918. She was truly a remarkable soul who did very well as a wife, mother and citizen of this world.

As a wife, she and her husband, Vincent Walton-Steer, shared a truly exemplary relationship of commitment for 65 years, which was temporarily separated with his passing on September 19, 2007.

Their harmonious relationship was made clear, when four days before his passing, he told her "Ruby, you have been a very good wife, and a very good mother to our sons".

Thus, her duties as a wife easily extended to her role as a mother. The couple had two sons, Karl Michael and Peter Donovan.

Many roles

As a mother, like many mothers then, Ruby Steer wore several hats. She was not only a mother but chief disciplinarian, administrator, teacher, adviser and comforter. As a mother, she saw that the basic requirements and other important necessities in life were in place, for all family members. As a disciplinarian, she insisted on good behaviour and would dispense punishment if required. As a teacher, it was amazing how she could easily help her children in history, geography, English language, English literature and scripture.

So passionate were the Steers for education, that it was decided that, since her husband, a police officer, worked irregular hours, she would attend parent-teacher association meetings. As an adviser, she gave advice, some of which was at times not popular at first but later proved to be most valuable. When her children told her of the successful outcomes of her advice, she would only smile wisely.

High grades expected

Her ability to comfort and console were most noticeable when, for example, the results of examinations were not the desired high grades expected and, again, when Karl or Peter was ill. All these qualities helped her become a citizen of this world.

Being a mother, she bonded well with children and mothers would seek her out on matters concerning their children's behaviour and education, thereby earning the respect of so many persons from babies to the very elderly. She showed care and thoughtfulness and received same.

At P.A. Benjamin, and later at Seaview Enterprises, she interacted very well with her fellow staff members and customers and, being so open-hearted, she made friends with people from the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, North America and Europe.

"You have lived a full life Mom, leaving this side of life just short of your 91st year. Your soul is at peace and life perpetual now is yours, as light perpetual now shines on both yourself and Dad," her sons' tribute read.