Re: Ruth Boswell Brown

["Terry Brown" <Terry_Brown_uid1846@yahoogroups.inval_ id>]

Ruth Boswell Brown

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Ruth Boswell

Brown, 86

CAPE ELIZABETH -- Ruth Boswell Brown, of Cape Elizabeth, died peacefully
Oct. 27, 2011

after a brief illness. She was born July 19, 1925 in Beverly, Mass., the

daughter of Arthur F. Boswell and Ruth Beatrice Thorner. She was preceded in
death by her husband of 27 years, Thomas M. Brown; her parents; her
brothers, Arthur F. Boswell Jr. and James A. Boswell; and her aunts, Mae,
Alma, Helene and Millicent. She is survived by her four children and nine
grandchildren: sons, Christopher, of Argentina, and his daughter, Alison
Rogove; Craig, of Cape Elizabeth, and his daughters Chloe and Moriah; Curt,
of Chicago and his sons Kevin and Eric; and daughter Leslie and her husband,
Cam Brown, of Cape Elizabeth and their children, Carson, Caroline, Austin
and Cameron. She is also survived by her half-sister Virginia McPhee, of
Beverly Mass.; and by many nieces, and nephews.

Ruth was devoted to her family and friends, fun-loving, and talented. She
led an interesting life and faced her share of challenges along the way.
When her mother died when she was just 6 years old Ruth moved in with and
was raised by her four unmarried aunts -- all proud, hard-working women who
shaped Ruth's life. Ruth faced kidney disease at a young age, eventually
losing one kidney, and when her remaining

kidney began to fail in the 1950's Ruth was an early candidate for a

then-experimental kidney transplant. After a long hospitalization, her
kidney recovered on its own and stayed healthy the rest of her life.

At the age of 19, Ruth moved on her own to New York City where she worked as
an executive secretary at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. It was in New York that she
met Tom Brown, a young Canadian telephone company installer who had just
moved down from Nova Scotia. Their first date was a dance at the New York
Canadian Legion celebrating the birth of Prince Charles. Ruth and Tom were
married on June 25, 1950 in Beverly, Mass. They raised their children in
Danvers, Mass. until Tom's job required a relocation to Cape Elizabeth in
1966. Ruth grew to love Maine and stayed for the next 45 years.

She worked as an executive secretary at several companies in Massachusetts
and Maine including Veeder-Root, General Electric, The Research Institute of
the Gulf of Maine and the law firm of Preti, Flaherty.

After Tom's death in 1977, Ruth's ambition, fashion sense, creativity and
sewing talent inspired her to start her own business at the age of 55. She
owned and operated The Bridal Shop at Strictly Formal in Portland for many
years.

In retirement she volunteered as a proofreader for the Cape Courier, and at
the gift shop at Portland Headlight, as well as for several progressive
Democratic political campaigns. After 80 she was still driving her
grandchildren to events and driving friends and family members to doctor's
appointments or out to lunch. Ruth loved a party and was always entertaining
friends and family.

Visiting hours, 6-8 p.m., Nov. 4, at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Rd.,
South Portland, Maine. Funeral Mass at 11 a.m., Nov. 5, St. Bartholomew
Catholic Church, Cape Elizabeth.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to:

TheAnimal Refuge League of Greater Portland - www.arlgp.org

Ruth Boswell Brown



Published in Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on October 31, 2011
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