Mary Jo (Gastin) Ruth, former resident of Brookhaven, Delaware County for 61 years, passed away peacefully from dementia-related illness on November 14th, 2024.
She was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania on November 12th 1938 and was the proud daughter of Albert A. and Mary T. (Flaherty) Gastin.
Mary Jo attended Annunciation Elementary School and Annunciation High School in Shenandoah before moving to Philadelphia in her sophomore year of high school. She graduated with honors from West Philadelphia Catholic Girls High School in 1956 and matriculated to Immaculata University, graduating with honors in 1960.
Upon graduation, Mary Jo secured a history teaching position at Sun Valley High School, and there she met the man of her dreams and her partner in love and life for 63 years: John (Jack) Ruth, with whom she shares three children and ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Mary Jo was a homemaker and raised her children with a focus on education, and she encouraged each of them to think independently and pursue their own passions. She then returned to work, applying her teaching skills as an instructor for employees at General Electric Customer Service.
Mary Jo moved on to become Secretary for the Brookhaven Municipal Center. Mary Jo was the “creator extraordinaire” of the borough newsletter and was instrumental in many positive changes through her tenacity and dedication to Brookhaven. She held political roles in the community and was a contributor to Town Talk.
She had a vibrant creative side, with photography as her main medium. Working with film, she enjoyed developing her own prints, and later Mary Jo and her digital Nikon were a common sight at community events, as she lifted up her neighbors by promoting their efforts.
She diligently practiced calligraphy, and she wrote a novel populated with vivid characters and a subtle twist at the end. She encouraged this kind of exploratory creativity in all those around her.
Mary Jo was also a spirited debater and appreciated an inspired discussion. And, she unfailingly stuck up for anyone she saw as needing an advocate.
Mary Jo loved to travel with her husband Jack – they packed the kids into their station wagon and adventured from Maine to Florida. They toured (and photographed) U.S. national parks. They then visited Italy, Rome, Ireland, and the British Isles. Mary Jo and Jack enjoyed having a house near water and had second homes first on the Chesapeake Bay and then in idyllic Lewes, Delaware.
Mary Jo’s greatest love was her family. She hosted countless family dinners and was an outstanding cook and baker. She was extremely proud of her Irish and Lebanese ancestry and boasted of it through her culinary skills. Through the years, she was a tireless caregiver for her parents and her three maiden aunties, who benefited greatly from her loving care.
Mary Jo is survived by and will be sorely missed, by her loving husband John (Jack) Ruth, her children John A. Ruth Jr. (Sharon), of Lockport NY, Barbara A. Ruth Cook (Christopher) of Philadelphia and Philip L. Ruth of San Francisco, as well as her 10 loving grandchildren:
Evelyn (Jason) Cox, Elizabeth (Craig) Briggs, Samuel, Emily, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Joshua, Benjamin, Conor, and Adam, and two great-grandchildren, Matthias and Nehemiah.
She is also survived by her sister and only sibling Ethel Ann (Gastin) Murphy of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, who loved her dearly and with whom she shared countless precious moments and experiences through the years, along with Mary Jo’s nephew John, (Karen), nieces Clare (John), Jennifer (Vince) and seven great-nieces and great-nephews, and one great-great nephew.
Mary Jo’s Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 9:30-10:30AM at the Bateman Allen Funeral Home, 4220 Edgmont Ave. Brookhaven, PA 19015.
Funeral Service: Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 10:30AM at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be sent to Save The Children: by calling 1-800-728-3843 or by clicking this link Save The Children
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