Ruth M. Power

POWER, Ruth Marie, of Bedford, MA, formerly of Winchester, passed away March 19, 2023 after 100 years of a full and adventure-filled life. She was the daughter of William J. Power and Clare T. (Lally) Power. She is predeceased by her siblings Arthur, Robert, William and Patty.

Nicknamed ‘Foof’ by her 11 beloved nieces and nephews, she was the ‘fun’ Aunt who led them on grand Boston adventures to the Ice Capades, the Swan Boats and The Museum of Science.  Ruth’s adventures were often conducted from behind the wheel of one of her ‘fun Aunt’ cars, including her beloved late 50’s VW Beetle convertible named Sigfried.  

Starting in high school, Ruth knew that she wanted a career in science.  After graduating from Emmanuel College in 1945, she trained as a ‘taster and odor expert’ at Arthur D. Little, working for some of the world’s largest food companies.  Until the end of her life she could taste a brownie and tell if you had left it in the oven 60 seconds too long or used margarine instead of butter. 

She spent some years working in San Francisco where she made life-long friends, before returning home to Waltham and continuing her career at Cryovac and Badger Engineering.

Ruth enjoyed weekends in Harwichport and traveling the world with friends ~ from a visit to cold war Soviet Union in 1970 where her room was ‘bugged’ to her birthday celebration in Marrakech with a bottle of champagne she’d smuggled from Boston for the occasion to a dramatic date night on the town in Ankara, Turkey with two members of the Greek crew from her cruise ship that ended in a dramatic fist fight between the crew and the locals before they all fled back to safety of the ship.  

Ruth grew up as a 4th generation Waltham resident, and her long, accomplished life will be celebrated at a funeral mass on March 29th at 10am at St. Mary’s Church in Waltham, the same church where her great grandparents were married.  

Family and friends will honor and remember Ruth’s life by gathering for a calling hour in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, March 29th from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street where her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Harwich is Thursday.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Emmanuel College, 400 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 or www.emmanuel.edu