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SHAVERTOWN — Monday’s funeral service for the late Ruth K. Smith was, as expected, a sad affair — yet when her oldest child, Kevin, delivered the eulogy, the mood changed.
Kevin told several stories about his mom, a person known by many and a person who everyone enjoyed being around, Family and friends loved Ruth K. Smith and those crowded into St. Therese’s Church on Pioneer Avenue in Shavertown, got to savor in the stories Kevin told because each of those attending could tell similar tales of their times with Ruth.
“She loved life and it showed,” Kevin said of his mother. “What style and grace. She was entertaining and engaging; outgoing and friendly; considerate and kind.
“She had the ability to light up a room the moment she walked in — and she was usually there until they turned out the lights.
“Her fashion sense was impeccable, her zest for life undeniable and her love and concern for helping others unsurpassed. She enjoyed life to the fullest.”
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. with The Rev. James J. Paisley officiating.
Kevin thanked all who attended the Mass and those who paid their respects at the viewing on Sunday. He said it was “an amazing tribute to a wonderful person” and added that his mom “would be proud and humbled.”
Kevin said and his sister, Ruth, and brother, Olie, and the entire family “are all so proud of mom.” He said his mother was loved and admired by all who knew her.
“Many said she was a role model and inspiration for so many women and while that is absolutely true, we can’t forget she was a role model and inspiration for all of us,” Kevin said. “Mom knew the value of hard work and she was humble about it. When interviewed on WVIA a few of her quotes stand out. She said, ‘Basically, I sell houses.’ But there was so much more to her.”
Kevin told the story about the time his mom was playing golf with Dr. Darrel Evans, her eye doctor.
“Mom either almost or actually ran into a tree with the golf cart and Darrell said he couldn’t wait to tell people the story,” Kevin said. “Without missing a beat mom replied, ‘And I can’t wait to tell them you’re my eye doctor.’”
Kevin said his mother was “kind of private about her age” and when someone would ask, she would lean in and say, “Can you keep a secret?” and when they invariably replied, “Yes,” Ruth would say, “So can I.”
Most of all, Kevin said his mother loved her family and her grandchildren. He said she enjoyed dinners out, trips to New York, shopping with her granddaughters, Sundays at the lake and every holiday with family.
“She was a wonderful grandmother,” Kevin said.
Kevin then told a story about when Ruth called her grandson, Neil, to thank him for sending her flowers for Mother’s Day. The voice message was lengthy, Kevin said, and typical of his mother. Kevin said in addition to thanking Neil for the beautiful flowers, Ruth went on and on and on, covering several topics and providing a lot of information about things like her job, apple pies, hams and kielbasa, and back again to thanking her grandson over and over.
“What simple sincere gratitude,” Kevin said, becoming emotional as he concluded his eulogy the way his mother would often speak. “So Mom, we’re over the moon happy for having had you in our lives. You’re extraordinary and thank you, thank you, thank you. We love ya. Hope to see you soon. You take care. And God bless you, like you blessed us.”