Loretta J. Ring – Aspire Funds

Loretta Jane Ring was born on June 24, 1953 to Alf and Alvina Ring of Southey, Saskatchewan. She was the eldest of her 3 siblings. Loretta grew up in Southey and attended Robert Southey School. Following graduation from high school, she attended the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus and graduated as a Registered Medical Technologist (RMT). Loretta married Myles McMorris of Lewvan, Saskatchewan on March 27, 1976 in Banff, Alberta at the Rundle Memorial United Church.

Loretta built her 40+ year career as an RMT dedicated to health and science. In her career, Loretta worked in hospital laboratories all across Canada, including the Regina General Hospital, the Saskatchewan Provincial Laboratory in Regina, Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary, Saint Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener, Providence Hospital in Moose Jaw, and the Moose Jaw Union Hospital. Her work ethic was unmatched, and she formed deep and lasting friendships with her colleagues, always showing up with loyalty, generosity, and a sharp mind.

Beyond her career, Loretta was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a lover of books who read incessantly, was a dedicated walker and hiker and was a lifelong devoted Star Trek fan. Loretta thoroughly enjoyed travel. Although her travels took her to many amazing places throughout Canada and the world, the volcanic islands of New Zealand, Iceland and especially Maui held a special place in her heart.

Loretta approached life with curiosity, passion, and an unwavering commitment to caring for others. ‘How can I help you?’ and “What can I get you?” were more than mere polite questions. For Loretta, they were a way of life. In an instance, and without a second thought, Loretta would literally and honestly give you the shirt off her back. If Loretta perceived that one of her family or friends was threatened in any way, big or small, Loretta would come to their defense with all the energy and fierceness of a mother bear protecting her cubs.

Loretta was tough and determined. If she set her mind to do something, it was done and done well. As an example, in her fifties, Loretta decided to challenge herself and enrolled in a Therapeutic Massage program at the Western College of Remedial Massage in Regina just to keep herself active and engaged. Naturally, she excelled in that role and provided professional massage services to Temple Gardens Mineral Spa and Resort in Moose Jaw as well as her family and friends in addition to working her shift at the hospital.

Loretta was a remarkable woman, but all her hard work and compassion did not spare her from a cruel fate. My wife of 49 years passed away on January 8, 2025 at 12:01 pm in the Palliative Care Unit of the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina.

In her final years, Loretta faced immense and formidable medical challenges. Although Loretta was one of the hardiest and healthiest people I have ever known, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in 2018. In retrospect, there were certainly signs even before that diagnosis. Watching Alzheimer’s relentlessly and progressively take away her fierce independence was heartbreaking.

One of the cruelest parts of her AD journey was Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA)—a rare variant that primarily affects the visual processing centers of the brain. Unlike typical Alzheimer’s, which initially impacts short term memory, PCA progressively robs a person of their ability to interpret what they see. Over time, Loretta lost her ability to recognize objects, read, and eventually was rendered completely blind and consequently being registered with the CNIB. This was frankly devastating for someone who had always been fiercely independent, genuinely intelligent, with a tremendous work ethic and an endless capacity for kindness.

In those years, my best friend, my cheerleader, my supporter, my rock gradually slipped away. To witness her sharpness, curiosity, and engagement with the world gradually fade was devastating.

I choose to remember the woman who tackled every challenge with determination, the woman who defended her loved ones like a mother bear, and the woman who always gave more than she took. It is important for me to ensure that her spirit and her presence live on even though her physical body is no longer with us.

That is the reason for establishing the Loretta J. Ring – Aspire Legacy Fund and the Loretta J. Ring Fund. Her name lives on in and through these Funds. By attaching Loretta’s name to charitable giving, she will continue to touch lives in our community and beyond. She will continue to be a source of independence, strength and generosity.

The word Aspire is at the heart of her Funds. To aspire means “to have great ambition, to desire strongly, to strive toward a goal.” That word captures Loretta’s spirit and it captures the purpose of these Funds. They are about looking forward — about helping others strive, endure, and flourish.

Through these Funds, support will go to causes that mattered to us: advancing health, medical research, compassionate care, Alzheimer’s Disease, vision loss, cancer, diabetes — these are struggles faced by so many families. In addition, Loretta’s compassion extended beyond healthcare, and the Funds will also support humanitarian and educational initiatives, giving hope to those who need it most.

For me, this is about ensuring Loretta’s name — and her very essence — continues to live on in a way that uplifts others. It is about transforming pain into purpose – loss into legacy. Loretta will be remembered for the light she gave and the opportunities her legacy will continue to create.

I certainly want to thank the Community Foundation for helping make this possible. Loretta’s name now stands alongside the word Aspire — a reminder to us all to strive toward something greater, to lift others up, and to leave behind a legacy of compassion and hope.