Ruth Stevens

WEBSTER - Ruth E. Stevens, 73, of Golden Heights, died Friday, July 31, 2009, at UMass Memorial Healthcare - University Campus, Worcester. She is survived by five sons, Brian Snelling of New Port Richey, FL, Stephan Snelling of Keene, NH, Eric J. Snelling II of Marlborough, NH, Jeffrey Snelling of Marlborough, NH, and William Snelling of Hinsdale, NH; two daughters, Kathleen St. Amant of Danielson, CT, and Patricia Bither of Millersville, MD; two brothers, Robert Stevens of Sierra Vista, AZ, and William Stevens of Oxford; a sister, Phyllis Thurlow of Killingly, CT; thirteen grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by two brothers, John Stevens of Plainfield, CT, who died in 1978, and George Stevens of Worcester who died in 1983; and four sisters, Eleanor Forcier of Leicester who died in 1994, Arlene Johnson of Leicester who died in 1988, Dorothy Stevens of Worcester who died in 1990, and Alice Slingo of Oxford who died in 2005. She was born in Oxford, the daughter of the late Harvey M. and Ethel M. (Allen) Stevens, and lived in Connecticut and New Hampshire before moving to Webster in 1982. She graduated from Charlton High School in 1954. Mrs. Stevens was a home health aide at Samaritans Health and Home Care of Webster for 10 years, retiring in 1998. She was a member of the Clara Barton Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Oxford and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was an avid reader, enjoyed taking pictures, liked knitting, crocheting, and traveling, and most of all enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, at Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford. Burial will follow at Westridge Cemetery, Charlton. Calling hours are Monday, August 3, 2009, from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Boston MA-NH Office, 330 Congress Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02210, or to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.