Ruth L. Harvey

Rafaella “Ruth” Lorena Harvey, a sister, mother, grandmother and caregiver, sadly passed away Sunday March 23, a day before her 92nd birthday. Born March 24, 1933, she was a force of nature, a rock star. Ruth’s life and personality were admired throughout her life. She worked until the ripe old age of 87. Strong, opinionated and steadfast in support of her family, Ruth loved cooking, entertaining, vacationing in York, Maine, and, of course, gambling with her sisters. The eldest of nine children brought up by Rocco and Katherine Volpe, Ruth was born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and graduated from Cambridge Latin High School. She met her future husband Frank Harvey on a blind date. Frank, in the Navy, proposed to Ruth by mail while he was transiting the Panama Canal by ship. Together, Frank and Ruth successfully raised three daughters: Jeanne, Debbie and Cheryl, with, no doubt, plenty of dramas along the way. Frank passed away in 1991.Throughout her 54-year career as a banker, Ruth was also a lifelong caregiver, first for her parents, then husband, and as the constant companion to her daughter Jeanne for 67 years. In return, her daughters were at Ruth’s bedside at the end. When asked about her history, Ruth told Mildred Wallace, a dear friend, “I had a wonderful life." Ruth Lorena Harvey is survived by her siblings: Albert Volpe, Virginia Breen, Katherine Goday (deceased), Edith Keenan, Marianne Reynolds, Susan Vezina, Judith Gavaza and Ann Marie Russell, her three daughters, Jeanne Harvey, Debbie MacLean and Cheryl Waldron, two grandchildren, Ryan MacLean and Lauren Ladd, and one great-grandchild Owen Ladd. A Private Funeral Mass will be held in St. Jude Church in Waltham at 11 o’clock, Friday March 28th. 

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