At 5:22 am on September 2, 2025, Natalia Catherine Rugg (nee Carlos) died peacefully at the age of 78 with her daughters by her side. She is survived by her daughters, Carla Rugg (Julian Lengauer) and Teresa Waldal (Tony), grandson Michael, sister Iris Poncelet (Tony), brother-in- law, Murray Rugg (Michele Lan), brother-in-law Stuart Jump, sister-in-law Paula Carlos as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Greeting her on the other side was her loving husband, Terry, her parents, Mike and Caroline, her brother, Allen Carlos, sister-in-law Connie Jump, brother-in-law Dennis Rugg, and many other family and friends. She is also mourned by her chosen family, Inna Lialyk-Baran and Vasyl Baran (Julia, Zakhar, Anna), Inna and Ivan Paskevych (Maksym, Alina), and Larysa Baranovska.

Mom was born on August 31, 1947 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, grew up on a farm near Viscount. She and Dad married on October 15, 1966 and welcomed their daughter, Carla, in spring of the 1967. Teresa completed the family in fall of 1971. Mom earned her Secretarial Diploma in 1975 graduating with distinction. Over the next years she held various positions: as an administrative assistant, selling World
Book Encyclopedias (District Manager), and then working her way from cashier at the Saskatchewan University hospital to a Clerk Steno III with the Saskatchewan Transplant Program, before retiring. Mom and Dad lived in various places through their marriage: Kitimat, BC, Plunkett, Colonsay, Elstow, Clavet (where she was a Volunteer Firefighter and Secretary of the volunteer fire department), Saskatoon, a farm North of Martinsville, St. Denis, and then the condo in Saskatoon. Mom continued to live in Saskatoon after Dad’s death in 2018. 3 years ago she moved to Edmonton to have access to treatment at the Cross Cancer Institute.

Mom held many interests. She was a beautiful singer, harmonizing with ease. She was a creative visual artist, always the one behind the camera, and studied painting in earnest after moving to Edmonton. A master horticulturist, her gardens, orchards and flower displays caused people to stop their vehicles to compliment her. She was a member of the Saskatoon Horticulture Society growing many orchids. Mom was a life-long learner, always reading and watching documentaries on many different subjects. She lived in light and with love, always being the first to lend a hand to offer help to those in need. You could always count on her support for a good cause. Most recently she worked tirelessly to support many families who fled the war in Ukraine.

One of Mom’s greatest loves came to her later in life and made her a grandmother. She loved Michael more than the sun and the moon. He and Mom had a beautiful relationship where he called her most nights before bed to tell her he loved her. Our family thanks the many health care professionals that cared for her over the years, especially in the last weeks. Notably, Mom’s team at the Cross Cancer Institute: Dr. Sawyer, Dr. Tarumi (and their teams), and the care staff at Grey Nun’s hospice and Norwood hospice.

If attending, please wear bright colours to honour Mom’s memory.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice, volunteer with a local group, and be the light and love we need in these time.