Obituary of Ruth Downie Ruth Alena Downie, of Niagara Falls, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 while under the care of Hospice; she was 85 years old. Ruth was born in Alverton, Pennsylvania on November 10, 1932 and moved to Niagara Falls shortly afterwards. She was one of three children to the late Howard and Ruth Alena (Kane) Hodgkiss.
Ruth attended local primary schools and graduated from Trott Vocational High School in 1950. After graduating, she worked at S.S. Kresge’s Department Store and Hooker Chemical Corporation, where she played in their softball league. Ruth described herself as a tomboy in her earlier years, but most of us knew her as the soft-spoken, warm-hearted, loving, caring, tender and generous woman she turned out to be.
She was a beautiful person who radiated kindness; she was truly an angel amongst us and will be dearly missed. A loving wife and mother of five children, she was a meticulous homemaker that maintained an immaculate home, prepared hearty, home-cooked meals and a wide assortment of delicious baked goods – from scratch – yet always had time for sharing a moment, a story or joke, or offering comfort and support. In addition to being a wonderful homemaker and cook, Ruth’s interests over the years included bowling, needlepoint, poetry, reading, theatre, musicals, and gardening.
As a loving wife, she endured football and basketball season despite what her preferences may have been. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends, as well as taking long drives in the country while listening to music (or sports) on the radio and attending church events and assorted festivals with the love of her life, best friend and husband, Frank. Ruth is survived by four children: Diana, Dan, Jim (Carla) and Sean (Cindy) Downie; five grandchildren: Angela and Cheri Downie, Ashley (Travis) Ashmore, Jennifer (Mark) Thomas, and Michelle (Heath) Coulombe; and nine great-grandchildren: Andi Downie, Jaxson and Chloe Ashmore, Austin, Peyton, Samson and Lillian Thomas, and Nicholas and Daniel Coulombe.
She was predeceased by her husband Frank (2016) after 63 years of marriage, son Mark (2012), and two sisters, Alice Rogers and Betsy Schmidt. Friends and family may call on Monday, July 2nd from 2-4PM and 7-9PM at ZAJAC FUNERAL HOME INC. , 319 – 24th Street (corner of Welch Avenue), Niagara Falls, NY, where prayer services will begin Tuesday July 3rd at 10:30 AM.
Followed by a Mass of Christian burial 11:00AM at St. John De LaSalle, 8477 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY with Rev. Slavomir Siok officiating. Entombment following in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Niagara Falls, NY.
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