Obituary for Norma E. Ruffer
Norma Emma Ruffer, 90, of Lenox, MA and formerly of Pittsfield, MA died peacefully and under the loving care of HospiceCare in the Berkshires and Kimball Farms on Wednesday.
Born in Britton, Michigan on December 10, 1931, daughter of the late Arthur and Marie M. (Schmucker) Spreeman. She attended Central Michigan College, Michigan State University and graduated from Sienna Heights College. After teaching in Michigan and Massachusetts, she pursued a career in office management and bookkeeping for the family real estate business she shared with her husband.
In retirement, Norma loved attending and volunteering her time and book keeping skills to many cultural organizations in the Berkshires, including Shakespeare and Company and the Boston Symphony Orchestra Association of Volunteers.
She married Donald Owen Ruffer on June 14, 1953 at Saint Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church in Adrian, Michigan. They were married for 50 years prior to him proceeding her in death on December 13, 2003. Norma and Don were both founding, devoted, members and stewards of the former Faith Lutheran Church in Pittsfield, MA.
Norma is survived by her three children, Deanna Ruffer and her husband Carl Kevin Zartman; Dennis Ruffer; and Shyla Ruffer Matthews and her partner Stephen Blasdale; two sisters, Carma Marks, her twin, of Blissfield, MI, and Kathryn Connin of Manitou Beach, MI; four grandchildren, Marya Ruffer-Fortin and her Husband Michael Fortin, Benjamin Ruffer and his wife Krista Ruffer, Quinn Matthews, and Catrina Matthews; and two great grandchildren, Paige Ruffer and Luke Ruffer.
FUNERAL NOTICE: Calling hours will be Friday February 18th from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. followed by a ceremony at 1 p.m. at Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to HospiceCare in The Berkshires, Inc. 877 South Street Suite 1W Pittsfield, MA 01201 or to Messiah Lutheran Church 300 Buckland Rd. PO Box 1156 South Windsor, CT 06074 or to Saint Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church 632 South Madison Street Adrian, MI 48221.
Born in Britton, Michigan on December 10, 1931, daughter of the late Arthur and Marie M. (Schmucker) Spreeman. She attended Central Michigan College, Michigan State University and graduated from Sienna Heights College. After teaching in Michigan and Massachusetts, she pursued a career in office management and bookkeeping for the family real estate business she shared with her husband.
In retirement, Norma loved attending and volunteering her time and book keeping skills to many cultural organizations in the Berkshires, including Shakespeare and Company and the Boston Symphony Orchestra Association of Volunteers.
She married Donald Owen Ruffer on June 14, 1953 at Saint Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church in Adrian, Michigan. They were married for 50 years prior to him proceeding her in death on December 13, 2003. Norma and Don were both founding, devoted, members and stewards of the former Faith Lutheran Church in Pittsfield, MA.
Norma is survived by her three children, Deanna Ruffer and her husband Carl Kevin Zartman; Dennis Ruffer; and Shyla Ruffer Matthews and her partner Stephen Blasdale; two sisters, Carma Marks, her twin, of Blissfield, MI, and Kathryn Connin of Manitou Beach, MI; four grandchildren, Marya Ruffer-Fortin and her Husband Michael Fortin, Benjamin Ruffer and his wife Krista Ruffer, Quinn Matthews, and Catrina Matthews; and two great grandchildren, Paige Ruffer and Luke Ruffer.
FUNERAL NOTICE: Calling hours will be Friday February 18th from 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. followed by a ceremony at 1 p.m. at Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St, Pittsfield, MA 01201.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to HospiceCare in The Berkshires, Inc. 877 South Street Suite 1W Pittsfield, MA 01201 or to Messiah Lutheran Church 300 Buckland Rd. PO Box 1156 South Windsor, CT 06074 or to Saint Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church 632 South Madison Street Adrian, MI 48221.