Ruth Kelso

Surrounded by her children, Ruth Marie Kelso ascended into heaven January 4, 2024, at the age of 93. She was born to Peter Andrew Klein and Maria Ethel (Kunak) Klein on January 21, 1930, in Darby, PA.

She was one of four children: Otto, Joseph and Eugene Klein who predeceased her. Mom was a first generation American, who was raised in a German household by her parents who immigrated from Hneizdne, Slovakia, in the early nineteen hundreds.

She graduated from Notre Dame High School in Upper Darby, PA. She was honored as Darby’s community May Queen. She was a secretary at GE and sang in the choir where she met her future husband, Edward Kelso. Their first date was at the Franklin Institute Planetarium in Philadelphia. They married in 1954 and moved to DC for her husband’s career. She and Ed had ten children over twelve years, caring and raising them in the Greater Washington, DC area. As her children became older and her lap was empty, her love of children continued through her work with infants and toddlers at Mount Vernon Hospital. Her sweet gentle ways and happy heart did not go unnoticed as she received many awards. When she retired from childcare, Ruth and Ed took full custody of their injured, disabled adult son. They were married 50 years prior to her husband’s passing in 2004. Her devotion in faith carried her through the death of a daughter and son, Brenda Stefanelli and John Kelso.

Ruth spent the next twenty years living and socializing in Greenspring Village, Springfield, VA. She was a long-distance walker, hiking inside and out of the campus, smiling, and greeting everyone she passed. Her bright and friendly smile lit up the room. Her friendliness was contagious. She was active in the Catholic community, the Republican party and enjoyed telling jokes. She was most fond of visiting and spending time with all her children in various parts of the country. Her favorite travels were to Rome and Eastern Europe with her daughters to see her parents birth homes and meet many of her relatives in Slovakia.

Her endearing name was Babka to her family in Slovakia. Her tenacity, undeniable faith, resilience and enthusiasm for living was evident to those she knew and left them with fond memories. Ruth’s qualities of compassion, kindness, spunk for life and prayers for others were gifts. She did not let the world change her smile.

Ruth is survived by her four daughters, four sons and two spouses of her predeceased children. Regina (Steven) Bennett, Gerald Kelso, Vincent Kelso, Gregory Kelso, Anne Kelso (Chuck), Laura (Carl) Schwertz, Eileen (Mike) Sadik, Michael (Candice) Kelso, Laura Garvin and Peter Stefanelli.

She leaves behind nine grandchildren Shawn (Emily), Brittany (Jared), Heather (Zach) , Ryan (Sierra), Zach, Julia, Dominic, Daniel, and Catherine.

She also leaves behind four great grandchildren: Lydia, Joshua, Ella, Robert and an additional great grandchild coming soon.

Visitation will be at St. Berandette Catholic Church, in Springfield VA on Tuesday January 16, 2024 starting at 10am with Mass of Christian Burial at 11am. Burial will take place at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Alexandria, VA at 1:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Mom’s favorite charity, Community of Poor Clares of Alexandria. 2505 Stonehedge Drive, Alexandria, VA 22306

For Live Streaming follow the following links:

Videographers channel

https://youtube.com/@JPCollection

Live Streaming

https://www.youtube.com/@jpCollection/streams