Ruth E. Linnehan

January 19, 1917 – May 1, 2016

NEWBURYPORT- -- Ruth E. (Power) Linnehan passed peacefully on May 1 at Anna Jaques Hospital, where she had enjoyed visits from family and friends during her last brief illness.

Born in Cambridge to Thomas & Helena Power, Ruth was one of nine children, all active members of St. Paul’s parish. She graduated from Cambridge High & Latin School in 1934. During her teenage years, she and several close girlfriends formed “The Club”, keeping in touch with each other throughout their lives. Ruth enjoyed drama club, tennis and outings with her brothers, sisters, cousins and friends.

A fleet typist and stenographer, Ruth worked as a secretary for an insurance rating bureau in Boston. In 1942, she married Leonard J. Linnehan, also of Cambridge, to whom she had been introduced at a dance at Brattle Hall in Harvard Square. As a war bride, she had the great adventure of traveling by train to join her husband in New Orleans where he was stationed with the U.S. Army until deployment for operations in the Pacific. Once the war was won, they moved their growing family to Scituate and raised eight children. A devoted wife and mother, Ruth was active in the parish of St. Mary of the Nativity, the Scituate Women’s Club, and Cub Scouts. She helped put her children through college by working for many years at South Shore Department Store in Scituate Harbor. In “retirement”, she took great pleasure in her large extended family, especially her grandchildren, and in traveling with her husband around the U.S., Ireland and Canada, and at long last, having time for reading and solving crossword puzzles. After Leonard’s death in 1996, Ruth continued as the anchor of the family as well as an active member of the Scituate Senior Center, an avid bridge player, a skilled knitter of Irish afghans, and an enthusiast of yoga, long walks, fresh air and the changing seasons. Into her nineties, she volunteered in the community, helping at elections and making Jello every week for residents of the Pine Street Inn shelter in Boston. Ruth also served for 20 years as a volunteer at Scituate Etrusco Associates, dispensing free medical and nursing equipment for home use.

In 2015, Ruth moved to Newburyport to become part of the Atria residential community where she thrived on making new friends, going on outings, playing Scrabble, entertaining visitors and receiving “real mail.”

She is survived by six of her children: David Linnehan and his wife Sari, of Long Island City, NY; Paul Linnehan and his wife Genevieve, of East Hampton, NY; Mary Linnehan Dissette and her husband Michael Dissette, of Newburyport; Joan Linnehan of Scituate, James Linnehan and his wife Helen, of West Roxbury; and Kathleen Linnehan and her husband Dr. Joel Rosenbaum, of Hull. She was pre-deceased by her husband Leonard and two children, Richard Linnehan and Claire Linnehan Dillon. Additionally, she is survived by her brother Walter Power and his wife Virginia, of Hingham; and by ten grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

ARRANGEMENTS: Visiting hours Thursday 4:00-8:00 pm and Friday, 9:30-10:30 am at Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home, 382 First Parish Road, Scituate. Funeral Mass Friday at 11:00 am at St. Mary of the Nativity Church. In lieu of flowers, the following charities are suggested for donations in her name: St. Mary of the Nativity Church, One Kent Street, Scituate Harbor, MA 02066 or Scituate Etrusco Associates, Inc., PO Box 265, Scituate, MA 02066.