Ruthe F. Humphrey

Dorchester – Mrs. Ruthe F. (MacPhee) Humphrey, of Dorchester, died Friday March 7, 2014 at The Bostonian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was 86.

Ruthe was born in Boston on October 10, 1927, a daughter of the late John and Amelia (Luksha) MacPhee. She was raised in Brighton where she went to high school and later earned her nursing degree from Mount Auburn Hospital School of Nursing in Cambridge.

She served as an officer with the United States Navy Nurse Corps at Navy hospitals in Annapolis, Maryland and Jacksonville, Florida.

Ruthe lived most of her life in Rochester, New York where she was a maven of the arts. She belonged to the Opera Guild of Rochester and was a frequent patron of the city's museums. She loved the opera and music of all sorts, traveling, sewing and being a lifelong learner.

She lived in Quincy for a time before moving to Dorchester six years ago.

She leaves her children, Elizabeth A. Humphrey of Waltham and Herbert L. Humphrey and his wife, Maura, of Milton; her grandchildren, Nicole, Caroline and Cole Humphrey and her brother and sister, Brian MacPhee of Chelmsford and Jane MacPhee of Waltham.

Ruthe was also a sister of the late John, Anne and Diane MacPhee.

Family and friends will honor and remember Ruthe's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, March 13th from 5 to 8 p.m. and again on Friday morning when her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472.