Published January 11, 2019
MELROSE — Ruth Ford, a longtime resident of Melrose, passed away at Forestdale Park in Malden on January 3, 2019.
Born in Everett, one of six children of John and Edna Herlihy, Ruth graduated from Everett High School. It was at a dance at Immaculate Conception Church where she met her future husband, John Ford. After a first date to the State Line Potato Chip Factory in New Hampshire, both knew that they were meant to be together. John and Ruth were married for 61 years and shared many adventures including world- wide travel, but both would say their best moments were at their vacation home in Gilford, New Hampshire.
Ruth would tell anyone that her greatest achievement was her family. Raising five children and actively participating in the lives of her 10 grandchildren, was her great joy. She was a wonderful mother to Joan Ford Mongeau and her husband Peter, Teresa Ford Anastasi and her husband Peter, Stephen Ford, Tom Ford, and Mary Ford Glickman and her husband Randy. Ruth actively and lovingly participated in the raising of her grandchildren; William, Benjamin, Timothy and Julia Mongeau; Kathryn, Emily and Hannah Anastasi; Matthew and Nicholas Ford; and Sophie Glickman. Ruth also loved dogs, and had two who were truly family members, Champ and Henry.
While Ruth was very proud of her family, she was very accomplished in many other ways. She was especially proud of her B.S. in Nursing from Boston College. In fact, she kept her nursing license updated until 2014. She was an active volunteer in her community, inspiring her children and grandchildren to be passionate about community engagement. She was a founding member of Melrose Sharing and Caring, an organization dedicated to supporting Melrose children with disabilities. She volunteered for Incarnation Church for decades, serving her church community in many roles. She taught religious ed, coordinated Confirmation, served as Eucharistic Minister, visited local rest homes, and served many funerals. For all her work at Incarnation, she was presented with the Archdiocese of Boston’s highest volunteer award, the Cheverus medal.
Along with volunteering, Ruth had many other interests. Her passion for the Boston Red Sox was life- long. She calculated batting averages in her head; she knew all the statistics about the players (even in the bad years); and she was never shy about showing off her Ted Williams autograph in her Red Sox book. And, on any Sunday from September through February, you would find her cheering on the Patriots.
Finally, Ruth loved history. She was especially interested in English history, having traveled to England and Scotland many times. A voracious reader, she knew everything about the Tudors and their ancestors.
Visitation was held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose on Wednesday, January 9. Funeral procession from Gately Funeral Home was on Thursday morning January 10, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Incarnation Church, 425 Upham St. Melrose. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend. Burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Wilton, N.H. was private. Memorial contributions may be made in Ruth’s name to the Incarnation Church, 429 Upham St. Melrose, MA 02176. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com
