Mary Annna Ruyter, 101
DOVER - Mary was born in Philadelphia on Oct. 27, 1919 to Albert and Bess Brough along with her twin brother, Albert.
Shortly afterwards the family moved to Dover, Delaware for health reasons – young Albert was having some respiratory problems. They felt the air quality in Dover, a very small community at that time, would be better. The twins were very close right up to the end with phone calls every day.
Mary had a very happy childhood with living right in town where there was lots of children. She was very athletic. She loved to roller skate, play baseball and hockey. She took piano lessons, but didn't really care for it that much. She preferred being outside playing with other children.
At the age of 13 she met her future husband at a Halloween party, Fred Ruyter.
After she left school at Dover and Caesar Rodney she got a job as a clerk at Fishman's. Fred got a job working at the Acme grocery store. He would ostensibly go to Fishman's to get things for the Acme, but in reality he was going to see Mary. The two became more and more friendly until finally Fred got up the nerve to ask Mary for a date. Finally they go together and eventually got married in 1938. They had three children, Marian Richter, Susan Rogers, and Edward Ruyter named after his uncle Edward who was killed in action in WWII.
Mary was a wonderful wife and mother. She enjoyed baking, sewing, crocheting, knitting and planting beautiful flowers and gardens.
One day she thought she might like to work outside the home. She applied for a bookkeeper's job at the Corporation Trust Co. on The Green and she was selected. Her nickname at work was "Sunshine" – Everyone loved her. But after a while the company laid off a lot of the workers and they went to the unemployment office, Mary declined to go. She found that she really enjoyed being home more than at an outside job.
After marrying Fred, she became a Lutheran and attended St. Johns Lutheran Church. She was also a member of the St. Johns Ladies Aid.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; her twin brother, Albert; and a half sister, Hazel.
She is survived by her daughters, Marian Richter and Susan Rogers; and a son, Edward Ruyter Sr. and his wife Donna and Donna's children Mychal, Brian and Katrina and Edward's sons Edward Jr. and Christopher.
The Lord came on Nov. 18, 2020 and claimed Mary as one of His precious children and carried her to Heaven.