“‘She was a gentle soul, loved her cuddles and was adored by all [who] were fortunate enough to meet her. Ruby had the most beautiful long eye lashes, infectious smile and stunning hair colour… abc.net.au/news/2022-07-27/q…

she [became] a nurse instead.” She met Michael when he was in Melbourne’s St. Vincent’s Hospital, “being treated for a broken nose after an ice skating fall”. He later penned a love poem for her:

JEANETTE RYAN, 82, & her husband MICHAEL RYAN, 84, lived a love story that spanned six decades. They both tested positive for Covid-19 on New Year’s Eve. Jeanette was a “passionate musician [who] won a scholarship to attend the Conservatory of Music, but money was tight so she…

“A specialist in family law, he had an unending devotion to his clients. But his talents extended beyond the courtroom & onto the stage, where he had a beautiful bass voice. He sang with an amateur opera company and later a choir.” More here: abc.net.au/news/2022-02-21/n…

JEREMY ST JOHN, 69, was a “brilliant & accomplished lawyer, a husband to Jill for 34 years & a devoted father of four. But those lucky enough to know him recall [his] ‘extraordinary’ wit & dry sense of humour….

Please help build a virtual gallery of personal remembrances to honor fellow Australians who’ve died in the pandemic. If you know someone who’s lost a loved one to Covid, invite them to post a tribute w/ the hashtag: #LovedOnesNotNumbers xitter.cf/lovesnotnumbers?s=21

“was a talented pianist & singer” who “loved to have fun & lived her life to the fullest; a woman who got a kick out of sailing a boat in a strong wind.” Story here: theguardian.com/australia-ne…

MARILYN SAUNDERS, 79, “loved sport, music, dressing up and, most of all, her family”. A former P.E. teacher at Coburg High school in Melbourne’s north, she taught future Olympic athlete Raelene Boyle & Aus rules footballer Robert Walls. She “adored singing & music –

“‘Every person who engaged w/ Michelle walked away a better person,’” a friend wrote. Ben said, “‘She was my everything. The best part of me is gone & now I have to be the Dad & the Mum & I will never come close to being anywhere near as fabulous as she was.’”

MICHELLE HAYES, 46, was a “beloved teacher” at Bowral Public School where she worked w/ her husband Ben. She previously taught at Norfolk Island Central School for 12 yrs. “‘Although Michelle was only pint-sized, her passion for all things demanded triple the space on this earth.