Ruth M. George-Vandewater

Ruthie died suddenly on Monday, Christmas Day, December 25, 2023, in St. Elizabeth's Hospital from complications of pneumonia. She was 77.

Ruth M. George-Vandewater was born January 27, 1946, and she was raised in Haverhill under the loving care of Helen Hannon and her family both immediate and extended and loved living in Haverhill. Ruthie was a resident of the Fernald School in Waltham from age 8 until 20 years old. She had also lived in Brighton, Allston, and Boston’s Fenway neighborhood.

She was a very active member of the Espousal prayer community and as a lay associate of The Stigmatines Religious community in Waltham. Ruthie was a familiar face on the campus of the former Stigmatine property on Lexington Street.  She travelled to Brazil for a week-long international conference of Lay Stigmatine's and to Italy for a two-week celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Stigmatine community. She served as a lay Eucharistic minister at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Parish.

Ruthie worked for The Gateway Arts Sheltered Workshop in Brookline for many years where many longtime friendships were formed.

Predeceased by her late adoptive father, Sherwood E. ‘Van’ Vandewater she leaves her adoptive mother, Page M. (Eberle) Vandewater; her brothers, Gilberto Rosado of Orlando, Florida and William D. Vandewater of Lawrence; her foster-niece Sheila Currier of Brooksville, Florida; her godmother, Donna Esalon of Jamaica Plain; two nephews; a host of friends including Susan Washburn of Waltham and Kenneth Sylvester of New Hampshire.