Ruth A. Roden

Ruth Atwood (Koehler) Roden died peacefully on February 23rd , with loving family by her side. She was born on January 13, 1926 at the Shaw Hospital in Lowell, MA to the late Charles and Dorothy Koehler. Ruth grew up in Lowell, MA and Pelham, NH. She was a graduate of Lowell High School class of 1944, and Lowell Academy of Hairdressing. She is survived by her daughters, Karen Nilsson and her husband, Lou, of Chelmsford, MA, Rena Badger of Nashua, NH, and Yun Hwa Mariano and her husband, Charlie of Framingham, grandchildren Jennifer Reese of Chelmsford, MA, Damon Nilsson of Telluride, CO, Molly Badger of Telluride CO, and Tim Mariano of Framingham, MA. She was a devoted great-grandmother to Matthew, Jacob and Benjamin Reese, whom lovingly referred to her as Gee Gee. She is also survived by her sister, Frances Wallace, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her son David, and her sisters, Carla Hobbs, Dorothy Hutchison, Mary Mooney and Jean Paquette.

Ruth spent the beginning of her adult life in North Conway, NH as a pastors wife. She embraced this role with grace and pride, helping organize fairs for the Congregational Church and dinners for special guests.
She returned to Pelham in the late 1970s and worked as a lunch lady for many years at E.G. Sherburne Elementary school. She resided there until moving to Chelmsford in 2014 to live with her daughter and her family.

Ruth was a nature enthusiast. Throughout her life she taught her family many things about nature; which leaves smelled just like wintergreen, which flowers in the forest should never be picked, and how to make a Partridge Berry wreath. She loved wild flowers and pressed many into various books, which we continue to find to this day. She knew the names of every backyard bird and enjoyed watching and feeding them.

One of the greatest joys in her life were her great-grandchildren. She would drive herself over to see them multiple times a week from the day they came home from the hospital to feed them, rock them, and take them for walks.

Ruths family would like to thank the staff at Westford House, particularly those on Poes Corner, for the loving care they provided during her stay over the last two years.

It being her wish, there will be no services. A celebration of her life will take place in the late Spring. Those wishing to make a donation in her name may do so to: The Paul Center, 39 Concord Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824 (www.thepaulcenter.org) or The Lowell Humane Society, 951 Broadway Street, Lowell, MA 01854 (www.lowellhumanesociety.org.) Arrangements under the care of BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen Street, CHELMSFORD, MA 01824.

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