Obituary for Ruth Viola Elsie Elander (Nyman) Mrs.
Ruth Viola Elsie (Nyman) Elander
Of Waltham, passed away peacefully early Monday afternoon December 28th, 2020 surrounded by her loving family at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge after a brief illness at the age of 89.
Born on March 15, 1931 in Boston; daughter of the late Oskar J. Nyman and Anna Amelia Fredericka (Larson) Nyman. Ruth was raised in the Beacon Hill and Dorchester sections of Boston before moving to Waltham after her marriage. She enjoyed many summers at the family home in Fairhaven on West Island. Ruth attended Woodrow Wilson Senior High School and graduated from Dorchester High School for Girls in 1948; she furthered her education at Boston Clerical School.
While attending a youth group event at Vasa Lutheran Church in Dorchester she met the love of her life and the man she would spend the next 70 years of her life with; John R. Elander Jr.. On August 25, 1950 the two were married in Vasa Lutheran Church. They raised a family of 4 children in the home John built in Waltham.
As a teenager Ruth was a volunteer for the Civil Air Patrol. She went on to work at the Raytheon Corporation for several years. Much of her life was dedicated to the Scandinavian Living Center of Newton where she worked as a Correspondence Secretary for over 45 years. She served as Past President of the Scandinavian Charitable Society of Greater Boston and Past President of the Swedish Square & Compass Club. Ruth had a strong faith in her God and had been an active and devoted member of the First Lutheran Church of Waltham for years. She had a love for singing and for 25 years was a member of the church choir and had been a soloist.
Another enjoyment of Ruth's was sewing; she belonged to the American Sewing Guild serving as Co-Chair for the neighborhood. In her spare time she loved to dance and go swimming at West Island. Ruth was a member of Palestine Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star for 59 years.
Her greatest enjoyment in life came from being surrounded by her family and her friends.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 70 years John R. Elander Jr.; her devoted & loving children Gail Marion Frederika Baillio and her husband John Henry of West Newton; Carol Ruth Bennett and her husband Ronald of Waltham; Diane May Elander Keys and her husband Ronald L. Keys of Norfolk, MA; and John "Robert" Elander III and his wife Nancy (McQuiggan) Elander of Lexington; her cherished grandchildren Irene Hastings, Erika Hoover, Britta Baillio, David Baillio, Matthew Keys, Jonathan Keys, Larsen Keys, Annika Elander and Paige Elander; and her adoring great grandchildren Hunter, Sonja, Evan, Penelope, Logan, Aurora and Leo.
For the safety of those we love and care about during this difficult time, and for those who wish to pay their respects to Ruth's family can do so in accordance with CDC, Federal, State and Local guidelines in the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody Street, WALTHAM, during Visiting Hours on Thursday morning December 31st from 9 - 11 a.m. Followed by a Funeral Service to celebrate Ruth's life and remember the love she shared with those she touched at 11:00 a.m. Her burial will follow at Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham.
In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Scandinavian Living Center, 206 Waltham St., Newton, MA. 02465
Of Waltham, passed away peacefully early Monday afternoon December 28th, 2020 surrounded by her loving family at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge after a brief illness at the age of 89.
Born on March 15, 1931 in Boston; daughter of the late Oskar J. Nyman and Anna Amelia Fredericka (Larson) Nyman. Ruth was raised in the Beacon Hill and Dorchester sections of Boston before moving to Waltham after her marriage. She enjoyed many summers at the family home in Fairhaven on West Island. Ruth attended Woodrow Wilson Senior High School and graduated from Dorchester High School for Girls in 1948; she furthered her education at Boston Clerical School.
While attending a youth group event at Vasa Lutheran Church in Dorchester she met the love of her life and the man she would spend the next 70 years of her life with; John R. Elander Jr.. On August 25, 1950 the two were married in Vasa Lutheran Church. They raised a family of 4 children in the home John built in Waltham.
As a teenager Ruth was a volunteer for the Civil Air Patrol. She went on to work at the Raytheon Corporation for several years. Much of her life was dedicated to the Scandinavian Living Center of Newton where she worked as a Correspondence Secretary for over 45 years. She served as Past President of the Scandinavian Charitable Society of Greater Boston and Past President of the Swedish Square & Compass Club. Ruth had a strong faith in her God and had been an active and devoted member of the First Lutheran Church of Waltham for years. She had a love for singing and for 25 years was a member of the church choir and had been a soloist.
Another enjoyment of Ruth's was sewing; she belonged to the American Sewing Guild serving as Co-Chair for the neighborhood. In her spare time she loved to dance and go swimming at West Island. Ruth was a member of Palestine Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star for 59 years.
Her greatest enjoyment in life came from being surrounded by her family and her friends.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 70 years John R. Elander Jr.; her devoted & loving children Gail Marion Frederika Baillio and her husband John Henry of West Newton; Carol Ruth Bennett and her husband Ronald of Waltham; Diane May Elander Keys and her husband Ronald L. Keys of Norfolk, MA; and John "Robert" Elander III and his wife Nancy (McQuiggan) Elander of Lexington; her cherished grandchildren Irene Hastings, Erika Hoover, Britta Baillio, David Baillio, Matthew Keys, Jonathan Keys, Larsen Keys, Annika Elander and Paige Elander; and her adoring great grandchildren Hunter, Sonja, Evan, Penelope, Logan, Aurora and Leo.
For the safety of those we love and care about during this difficult time, and for those who wish to pay their respects to Ruth's family can do so in accordance with CDC, Federal, State and Local guidelines in the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody Street, WALTHAM, during Visiting Hours on Thursday morning December 31st from 9 - 11 a.m. Followed by a Funeral Service to celebrate Ruth's life and remember the love she shared with those she touched at 11:00 a.m. Her burial will follow at Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham.
In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Scandinavian Living Center, 206 Waltham St., Newton, MA. 02465