Ruth E. (MacFaun) Ross

Plymouth - Mrs. Ruth E. (MacFaun) Ross, formerly of Brewster and Sudbury, died Saturday, May 4, 2019 in Stafford Hill Assisted Living in Plymouth. She was 92.

Ruth E. MacFaun was born in Brockton on May 1, 1927 a daughter of the late Harry E. and Esther A. (Chamberlain) MacFaun. She lived there until she graduated from Brockton High School in 1945. She was inspired to pursue a career in nursing by her aunt Edith with whom she was very close. She was accepted and matriculated at the New England Deaconess Nursing School where she graduated as a RN in 1949. She was immediately accepted as a RN at the Waltham Hospital where she was a dedicated nurse, primarily in the maternity ward for the next 35 years.

She met her husband, Richard W. 'Dick' Ross on a blind date and they later married on September 10, 1949. Richard was a U.S. Marine veteran who received the Purple Heart during the battle of Okinawa. For 62 years they had a very long and loving marriage which lasted until Richard's death on January 12, 2011.

As with many newlyweds, they spent the first few years of their marriage establishing their careers saving and working hard for the future. They acquired a lot of land and physically built their first home together in Sudbury where they raised five children.

Ruth had a wonderful work ethic. While working the night shift (11 PM-7 AM) at Waltham Hospital she was also very active in raising her family and was a participant in all of her children's interests. She was responsible for fund raising for many years with the Sudbury Junior ski program. Her primary fund raiser was the annual candy bar sales where she was fondly remembered as 'The Candy Lady.' She also took her family on many camping trips to the White Mountains, horseback riding and skiing. In her efforts to keep up with her kids she learned to ski for the first time at the age of forty.

Over the years she was the hostess for all extended family holiday meals on Thanksgiving and for Christmas dinner for twenty or more. She later hosted annual family Christmas party at the Chateau Restaurant where her immediate families gathered.

In the 1980's, Ruth and Richard purchase a summer home on Cape Cod where they enjoyed the beach, boat rides on a local lake and Dick's passion for golf. They also had very full weekends with visiting family and friends.

In 1990, they sold their Sudbury home and moved to Brewster as their permanent residence. They remained there until Richard's death where Ruth moved to Plymouth to be close to her daughter Sue and her family.

Other notable interests of Ruth were cake decorating, she made many wonderful wedding cakes, traveling with her husband especially the annual 6th Marine Division annual reunions which were held all across the country. She also loved shopping with friends especially at Filenes and loved getting a deal at local yard sales. She and Richard also frequented Foxwoods Casino where she loved to play 'the one arm bandits.'

In addition to her husband Dick she was predeceased by her son, Donald A. Ross and siblings, Marion Montagano and Clayton MacFaun.

She leaves her children, David R. Ross (Angela) of Clinton, Connecticut, Susan E. Rameaka (Frank) of Plymouth, Douglas K. Ross (Lorain) of Holden, Steven E. Ross (Cathy) of Houlten, Maine; her daughter-in-law, Katherine Jameson of Northfield, New Hampshire; her grandchildren, Joe Ross, Adam and Kelsey Rameaka, Matthew, Jeremy, Devin, Kyle, Christopher Ross, Jessica Dejarlais, Jillian Ross, Jeanelle Ross, Daniel Ross, Leanne Ross and Andrea Ross; great-grandchildren Jacoby, Aubrey, Jordan and Isaac; nieces & nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Ruth's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, May 8th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Thursday morning when her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. The Rev. Doug Scalise will officiate. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 220 N Main St #104, Natick, MA 01760 or Epilepsy Foundation of N.E., 650 Suffolk Street #405, Lowell, MA 01854.