Ruth W. Gillies, 92, of Rockport, Mass., passed away at her home Thursday morning, January 26, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Boston on June 29, 1924, she was the daughter of the late John S. and Marion S. (Smith) Gillies. Ruth was a graduate of Smith College in 1946. She worked at Little, Brown Co., MIT Press and Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt Publishing as a textbook editor. In 1960 she moved to Rockport, where she has happily lived in the family home ever since. Ruth commuted to Boston from Rockport for 30 years and had many “train friends” who became lifelong friends after her retirement in 1990. Ruth played a very active role at the First Congregational Church in Rockport, where she was an enthusiastic volunteer for their fund raising fairs, a deacon, served on several committees as well as taking on the church newsletter using her Mac computer in her 70s. Ruth was a kind, caring and generous person, always volunteering at Meals On Wheels, Wellspring House, the homeless shelter and as an ESL instructor. She loved all animals and always had a dog or cats. Ruth loved to read, garden, walk and lunch with her friends, attend concerts and museums, and especially be with her family. She was a world traveler and kept wonderful journals of all her trips. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her nieces, Janet Foley and her husband, Jim, Susan Catalogna and her husband, Mark, all of North Andover and Stephen Gillies and his wife, Janet of Carlisle, Mass.; great-nieces, Kristine Catalogna and her partner, Eric Perkins of Kittery, Maine, Jennifer Giuffrida and her husband, Anthony of Chelmsford, Mass., Jenna Gillies of Brighton, Mass.; and great-nephew, John Gillies of Anchorage, Alaska; great-great-nieces, Sadie and Spencer; a great-great-nephew, Oliver. She was predeceased by her brother, John S. Gillies, Jr. of Westford and Rockport, in 2010. Her memorial service will be held in the First Congregational Church, Rockport on Sunday, February 26, at 2 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. There will be no visiting hours and the burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to the Cape Ann Animal Aid Association, 4 Paws Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930, Wellspring House, 302 Essex Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930, The Open Door, 28 Emerson Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930 or to Action Inc., 180 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. Arrangements are by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester. For online condolences, please visit www.greelyfuneralhome.com.
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