FRANKLIN: Gertrude Ruth Reilly, 87

Gertrude Ruth Reilly, 87, of Franklin, MA, peacefully passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at home surrounded by her family. “Ruth” was born May 5, 1937 in Needham, MA. She was the daughter of the late Francis and Mary Bussey. Raised in Waltham, MA, Ruth graduated from Waltham High School. She met her husband, John David Reilly, and the two were married in 1956. John and Ruth raised their four children in Newton before moving to Millis in the early 1990s. While Ruth worked as an executive assistant through the birth of her first child, she quickly embraced life as a homemaker raising her four kids during which time she was actively involved in the Cub Scouts as a Den Mother as well as the school PTA. Beginning in the 1970s, Ruth pursued a successful career in direct mail marketing holding several executive positions at American Fund Raising Services, Target Marketing, and W. A. Wilde Company. During her retirement, she enjoyed the company of friends at her home in Florida and always spending time with her family. Ruth looked forward to doing her crosswords and was passionate about jigsaw puzzles; she also loved anything associated with elephants and enjoyed collecting them in all shapes and sizes.

Besides her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, John. Ruth is survived by her four children: Scott, Brian and his wife, Christina, Brenda and her husband, David Collins, and Kenneth. Known as "Nana" to her three grandchildren, she will be sorely missed by Victoria Margaret and her husband, Brandon Andrade, Brian Cameron and his fiancé, Erica Mullally, and Reilly David. Ruth was a loving aunt to many nieces and nephews and is also survived by her brother, George Bussey. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, November 4, 2024 at 11:00 am in St. Mary's Church, 8 Church Street, Holliston, MA. Interment will be in Vine Lake Cemetery, Medfield, MA. The family will receive relatives and friends at Medfield's Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home from 4 PM - 7 PM on Sunday, November 3, 2024.