Published in the July 10, 2015
BURLINGTON — Ruth (Grant) Faller passed away peacefully on July 2 at her home in Burlington.
The daughter of Harry and Margaret Grant of Old Town, Maine, Ruth was the youngest of 12 children, 10 of whom grew up together, all girls. Ruth lost her father at age 2. But she would say she “grew up with everything” nevertheless, under the loving watch of her mother, a talented seamstress who kept the family intact and afloat. This foundation gave Ruth the discipline and energy to live a life full of family, love and accomplishment. When Harry died, Ruth’s oldest sister Veniene invited her mother and the girls still at home to come to Monhegan Island, where Veniene taught school. This invitation started a life-long love affair with the island and had a profound effect on the rest of Ruth’s life.
On Monhegan Island, Ruth met many people who inspired her with artistic talent and a drive for life. Later, after high school, she took art classes at Mass. College of Art and later focused on painting as well as colored pencil drawing. Many of her friends and family have her art in their homes, expressions of her love given in gifts. On Monhegan, Ruth also met a young man named Paul Dalrymple who, upon hearing that she had moved and was working in Boston, introduced her to a work-mate and dashing young man named Alan Faller. Alan learned very quickly what an amazing catch he had found. Ruth seemed to draw in and inspire everyone she met to joy, from day-to-day encounters to organizing parties and reunions for various groups of friends. They married in Boston in October 1951 after a one-month courtship and six-month engagement.
The next 10 years were full with devotion to four children and Ruth supported Alan in his PhD pursuit, spending a year in Sweden during which she met and studied the Bible with missionaries from the Church of Christ, confirming her faith in God and being baptized. Back in the states, the family made a big move to Maryland for Alan’s job. In addition to her faith, her family and her art, Ruth added gardening to her list of loves, doing it in grand style. The years in Maryland saw her raising four children and seeing them off.
With her nest empty, a new love surfaced — history, and specifically the history of her beloved Monhegan. After hours and years of work, she started thinking of publishing her research, and after achieving a lifelong dream in 1992 of actually owning a cottage on the island, in 1995 she proudly published “Monhegan, Her Houses and Her People.” Ruth certainly lived a life of joy and devotion and right up to the end maintained that “If it weren’t for Alan, I don’t know where I’d be.” She leaves Alan and her four children: Grant, Frederick, Timothy, Thais and their spouses and nine grandchildren to catch up with her later.
Visitation was held at the Burlington Church of Christ, 344 Cambridge St., Burlington, on Sunday, July 5, followed by a service. Interment at Hall Descendants Cemetery, Nobleboro, Maine. Arrangements by Gately Funeral Home in Melrose. Memorial contributions may be made in Ruth’s name to M.I.S.C.A. (Monhegan Island Sustainable Community Association), Monhegan ME 04852. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com.
