Obituary of Ruth L. Roach

Ruth L. (Doppler) Roach, a woman dedicated to her family and her church, passed away at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House surrounded by her family on Tuesday evening, December 13, 2016. The beloved wife of the late Frederick C. Roach, who passed away in 2004, she was 97 years old. Ruth was born in Roslindale; daughter of the late Joseph and Nora Doppler. Ruth was raised and educated in Medford. After high school she went to work at Andrew Dutton Company. While working there, she met her future husband Frederick Roach. They married in 1946 and lived in Medford for a period of time. They settled in Burlington in 1952 in a house especially made for them by her sister Evelyn’s husband. Fred and Ruth had a wonderful life together. They both had a love for music and used to go square dancing together wearing “matching outfits”. They were married for 58 years at the time of Fred’s death in 2004. Ruth was not one to sit idle. She worked for the Burlington School System in the Wildwood School cafeteria for over 25 years. She was also an avid walker. You could see Ruth walking around her block humming along to music on her iPod! Neighbors would often join her on her walks. Some days she would walk up to 3 miles. Ruth kept track each day of how many miles she walked and in 2008 accomplished almost 1,000 miles. She always liked being on the go and kept walking as long as she could. Ruth was involved in many organizations throughout the years. Her love of music brought her to join the EMCATOS (Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society). She was one of the founding members of the Burlington Quilters Guild and due to her dedication to the Guild over the years she was made an honorary member. She was also a member of the Historical Society of Burlington. Ruth loved to bake! Her specialty was her famous apple cake. Ruth loved to crochet and was known for her special hanging kitchen towels. She would make them for family, friends and church fairs. She would also sell her towels with the proceeds going to her beloved church. Ruth was a longtime member of the United Church of Christ Congregational. She was involved in many aspects of the church. The church and its members were like her second family. Ruth was an avid Boston Sports fan with the Celtics being her favorite team. She also had a fondness for animals loving her Boston Terriers. She was an enthusiastic teddy bear collector, loved feeding the backyard birds, and delighted in receiving and caring for garden flowers. Ruth was a devoted mother, grandmother, great- grandmother and auntie. She rarely missed a sporting event, concert or anything important in the lives of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She also never said “no” to them and showered them with love and gifts. If Ruth knew they were coming she would be waiting for them at the door and they would never leave empty handed. Ruth will be remembered for her kindness, her youthful spirit and her love for her family. Ruth was beloved wife of the late Frederick C. Loving mother of Donna Flodin & her husband Ralph of Alton, NH and Jacqui Arakelian & her husband Bob of Estero, FL. Sister of the late Evelyn Wing. Proud grandmother of Kristen Downie & her husband Doug of Burlington, Jodi Bencks & her husband Rob of Hollis, NH, Ralph Flodin, Jr. & his wife Patricia of Alton, NH, Catherine Rizzari & her husband Michael of Wilmington, Lori Bennett & her husband Mark of Dover, NH and the late George Flodin. Great Grandmother of Brendon Douglas, Daniel & David Downie, Ralph III, Ryan, Andrew & Sarah Flodin, Derek Flodin & his wife Sheelah, and Adam & Jason Bennett. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Sunday, Dec. 18 from 1-4 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at the United Church of Christ Congregational, 6 Lexington St., Burlington on Monday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. In lieu of flowers memorials in Ruth’s name may be made to the United Church of Christ Congregational, 6 Lexington St., Burlington, MA 01803.