Ruth C. Stevens

Ruth C. (Farrell) Stevens, age 93, passed away peacefully in the Stanley Tippett Home in Needham, Massachusetts on Thursday, October 26, 2017. Born in South Boston, Massachusetts on November 21, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Mary (Todd) Farrell. She was raised in Southie and graduated from South Boston High School with the Class of 1941.

Ruth married her beloved husband, Martin M. Stevens, in November of 1945. After a brief stay in San Francisco, while Martin finished his time in the service, they made their home together in South Boston. As the young couple welcomed their children, Ruth took on the role of a homemaker, raising and caring for her young family. Once she had settled in Milton and all of her children had started school, Ruth took a secretarial position with the Boston Public Schools. Ruth spent countless hours working in the Jeremiah Burke High School and the Horace Mann School for the Deaf, as well as serving as the administrative assistant for the president of the Boston School Committee.

Throughout her life, Ruth believed that education was very important, as such she enrolled in Curry College during the 1970s, earning her Bachelor's Degree focusing on education. Following graduation, Ruth enrolled in Suffolk University, earning her Master's Degree in Public Administration and later pursued her PhD at the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

After moving to Canton, Massachusetts, Ruth took a position with the Laboratory Division of Harvard Community Health, working as the chief financial officer. She spent a few years as the CFO of a law firm in Framingham, before taking the CFO position at the Massachusetts Municipal Association. After 10 plus years of dedicated service to the people of Massachusetts, Ruth retired in 1999, and she and Martin settled into their new home in Walpole.

Ruth always believed in giving back to her community. She was constantly looking for ways to improve the lives of underprivileged children and spent many hours volunteering for charitable organizations and contacting larger companies to organize donations to help her causes. The charity did not stop with kids, as she also spent countless hours volunteering and assisting at Rosie's Place in Boston.

From a young age, Ruth was deeply involved in the Democratic Party and always showed her unwavering support. In her quiet time, she was a veracious reader, often reading 3 or 4 books at a time. She and Martin loved to travel together, taking memorable trips to Europe, South America, and Caribbean. However most of all, Ruth adored spending time with her family. As a loving wife, she attended many barbershop concerts with Martin and the two enjoyed attending various auctions, looking for the perfect antiques for their home. She was a wonderful mother to her children, always making sure they were well cared for and treated them to her excellent home cooked meals. Ruth was overjoyed after welcoming her grandchildren, taking every opportunity to visit with them.

Beloved wife of the late Martin M. Stevens.
Loving mother of Paul M. Stevens and his wife Jean of Sagamore, Brian J. Stevens of Harvard, Marsha R. McManus and her husband Jack of North Andover, and Andrea M. Stevens of Walpole.
Cherished grandmother of Andrew, Geoffrey, Colin, Kerin, and Dana.
Sister of the late Paul Farrell, John Farrell, Margaret Austin, Mary Dow, and Patricia Harris. Also survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as her beloved dogs.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Ruth's Life Celebration on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 from 4-7 PM and Thursday, November 2, 2017 from 9-9:30 AM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Blessed Sacrament Church, 10 Diamond Street, Walpole on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Tippett Home, c/o VNA Care, Fund Development Office, 199 Rosewood Drive, Suite 180, Danvers, MA 01923.