Ruth Giddings McDonnell (née Benjamin) of Hyannis, MA was born in Utica, NY on January 17, 1924, and lived much of her life in the Syracuse, NY area. She graduated from Solvay High School in 1942 as Valedictorian, and she married her now-late husband, Thomas James McDonnell, in a military ceremony in 1944 during World War II. After the war, they raised their family of two sons (Thomas R. and Timothy McDonnell) and their two daughters (Paula David and Priscilla Merritt). In 1971, Ruth received her Bachelors of Education degree from Syracuse University, graduating Summa Cum Laude, inspiring all her children to get their own college degrees. Ruth loved working with young children and was an avid gardener and traveler.
Mrs. McDonnell is survived by all her children; her daughter-in-law, Nan McDonnell; her sons-in-law, Kenneth David and William Merritt; her grandchildren, Kristen McDonnell, Jennifer McDonnell, Carl McDonnell, Carly Brownell, Ryan David, and Andrew Merritt; and her grandson-in-law, Jeffrey Holsey. In addition, she has four great-granddaughters: Delilah Holsey, Michaela Fahey, Joslyn Dean, and Amani Davis. Ruth McDonnell lived the last years of her life on Cape Cod. She passed away on May 21, 2014, with her daughters by her side. Ruth’s family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at The Pavilion in Hyannis, where Ruth was cared for with compassion, love, and dignity.
There will be a memorial service for her at the Covenant Baptist Church in Sandwich, MA on June 3, 2014 at 11:00 AM. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in the Massachusetts National Cemetery shortly after the church service.
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