MAX WILLARD RUTLEY
April 26, 1949 – May 12, 2026

With immense sorrow we said goodbye to a wonderful husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle and friend, to all who knew him, in the early morning of May 12th at the Ottawa Heart Institute. Max battled kidney & heart failure, as well as cancer, with grace, fortitude and always humor.
Max was proud to be born and raised in the Lost Villages of Farrans Point, on April 26th, 1949, to the late Howard and Helen Rutley (nee Robertson). Max loved being a Lost Village boy and eventually moved to Ingleside with his family, at the age of 8 years old, after the flooding.
He leaves behind his loving and cherished wife, of 52 years, Janice. His beloved children, Jarrett, Joshua & Chris (Lucy) and his treasured grandchildren Justin, Jaden and Evan, who gave him so much joy and love in his life.

Max adored his family and he was proud to be a brother to Donna Wells, Duane (Judy), Gayle (Art) Sinfield, Bryan (Vivian) and Tammy (Dennis) Sullivan, as well as his brother-in-law Linden Wells. Max leaves behind many loved nieces, nephews and cousins. Predeceased by his dear brother Gerald Rutley (late Vera) and his darling sister Nancy Warner (late Bunny). His esteemed father and mother-in-law, Carl and Eleanor Armstrong and his admired brother-in-law, Wayne Armstrong.

Max was a friend to all, especially those he met at hockey rinks and baseball fields, while coaching and cheering on his boys and grandchildren throughout his life. He made lifelong friends at C.I.L in Cornwall and took great delight in maintaining those friendships. An avid and devoted Blue Jays & Toronto Maple Leafs fan, Max thrived defending his Leafs to those who supported any rivalry teams, especially the Senators.  A passionate and enthusiastic traveler, Max ventured on countless trips to the sun in the Caribbean and Mexico, navigated east to west coast Canada with family and enjoyed his overseas visits to Ireland and Europe with his close friends. Max always had a good time and loved life to the fullest with a twinkle in his eye.  He will be missed immensely.

A very special thank you to his dedicated girls at Dialysis Cornwall, Dr. C. Hesketh, Dr. J. Hutson and the compassionate doctors and nurses at the Ottawa Heart Institute and the Ottawa General Hospital. Also, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who sent heartfelt messages, cards, calls and visits. Thank you.

Please join us to celebrate a beautiful life led by an extraordinary man, Max Willard Rutley, on July 11th, 2026, at his residence, from 2pm – 5pm, to share memorable stories and honor a life well lived.

Our family wishes to express our sincere gratitude to David Lapier at Marsden Mclaughlin Funeral Home for their genuine care and support during this difficult time. Memorial donations would be greatly appreciated and may be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada or the Ottawa Heart Institute.  Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com