Ruth K. (McCruden) Ruddy, 88

LEWES - Ruth K. (McCruden) Ruddy of Lewes passed away Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, at Harbor Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Lewes. She was 88.

Mrs. Ruddy was born April 11, 1919, in Baltimore, daughter of the late James and Mabel Rebecca (Boyce) McCruden.

Mrs. Ruddy was a member of St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church.

She loved music and was an avid reader.

She was a retired nurse, having worked many years at Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia.

Mrs. Ruddy was also a house mother at the Beebe School of Nursing.

For many summers she hosted students through the British University North American Club exchange program; the students worked at the local resorts.

Mrs. Ruddy also enjoyed trying to grow things in her garden.

She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was a devoted wife and mother.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Ruddy, in 1991; and her son-in-law, Ronnie Donovan.

She is survived by two daughters, Pat Donovan of Lewes, and Susan Hohmann and her husband Joe of Media, Pa.; eight grandchildren, Tom Donovan and his wife Sue of Brewster, N.Y., and their children, Tyler and Katie; Keith Donovan and his wife Lisa of Middletown, and their children Lorin and Caroline; Karen Markovic and her husband Mark of Crofton, Md. and their children Kyle and Dylan; Jennifer McGaffin and her husband Jim of Wallingford, Pa. and their children Alleigh and Connor; Amy Ludwig and her husband Eric of West Chester, Pa. and their children Emily and Calvin; Neil Hohmann and his wifeLaura of Warsaw, Poland; Bill James and his wife Donna of Swarthmore, Pa. and their children Austin and Ashley; and Meredith Luzietti and her husband Rick of Springfield, Pa., and their son, Luke; her sister, Sally Aguilar of New Bloomsfield, Pa.; her sister-in-law, Dorothy Ruddy of Surf City, N.J.; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved.

She will be sorely missed by all of her survivors.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, Del. 1, north of Five Points, Lewes, where friends may call one hour prior.

Father John Grasing will be the Celebrant.

Interment will follow at Henlopen Memorial Park, Del. 1, Milton.

Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Beebe School of Nursing, 424 Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.