Ruth M. (Rourke) Better
Funeral Services were held privately in the Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals, Revere for Ruth M. (Rourke) Better, who died on Sunday, October 23, 2022 at the Mass General/Brigham Salem Hospital in Salem, MA she was 91 years old. Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, MA.
Ruth was born on May 9, 1931, to John J. and Mary (Berg) Rourke in Chelsea. She was the sister of the late Anna E. Quinlan and the late Edward J. Rourke. She was the beloved wife of the late Ret. Chelsea Deputy Chief Robert Better, Sr. Loving mother of Ret. Chelsea Fire Chief Robert Better, Jr. and his wife Diana of Marblehead, Gayle L. Jones of Cobbleskill, NY and Paula M. Kerrins and her husband Atty. Michael P. Kerrins of Lynn. She was raised and educated in Chelsea. She attended Our Lady of Grace Elementary School, St. Rose High School and graduated from Chelsea High School, Class 1949. She married Robert Better, Sr. in 1951 and the couple remained in Chelsea, where they began their life together, raising their three children. Ruth was a loving and dedicated wife and mother who also worked as a bookkeeper. During her career as a bookkeeper, she worked for Union Oil in East Boston, the New England Casket Company and finally retiring from Northeast Petroleum Corporation. Ruth enjoyed her lake house in New Hampshire, spending time with her family and travelling with her friends.
Ruth is the cherished grandmother of Lindsay Northrop and her husband Bryan of Marblehead, Chelsea Fire Lt. Robert Better, Jr. and his wife Christine of Medway, Marybeth Bartlett and her husband Brian of Schenectady, NY, Sarah Cole and her husband Sean of Latham, NY, Sophia M. Kerrins of Lynn, and Benjamin D. Kerrins of Lynn. She is the great grandmother of Jake, Sam, Jackson, Ryan, Connor, Lenox, and Zadie. She is also lovingly survived by her dear brother-in-law, Richard (Red) Quinlan and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452.
Our deepest and sincere condolences on the passing of your mom and grandmother. Upon reading the notice in the Chelsea Record, Laraine and I reminisced the fun times we had with the Better family whenever and wherever we were.
Never forget the good times you shared with her and your dad and may the both rest in peace.
Allan & Laraine
Bob,, My heartfelt sorrow extended to you and your family upon the passing of your mother. I have many memories of she and your dad, mostly at the lake house in Salem, yet many before those happy days. Recalling dinners at 91 Tudor Street with Sadie and the whole family. The youngsters in the kitchen and the adults around the dining room table. No doubt your mom was very proud of her son.
Bob ad Family,
So sorry to hear about your Mom’s passing. A lot or memories are in my head about her and your dad. Cary Square club, Carroll Street and the NH house-we had many good times.
Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.
Bobby and family,
Our deepest condolences on the loss of your mother. Our hearts go out to you at this difficult time.
David Hahesy and Joan Lanzillo-Hahesy
I’m standing upon the seashore.A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come to mingle with each other.
Then someone at my side says” she’s gone!”
“Gone where?”
Gone from sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says; “There, she is gone!” There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take the glad shout; “Here she comes!”