Obituary of Ann Ruping

Ann Ruping an Executive Assistant and Homemaker passed away after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease on Sunday night, March 17. She was 76 years old. Ann was a first generation American, was born in Lowell in 1936. Her parents, Toiva and Fannie Mannisto had emigrated from Finland in search of the American dream. She was a graduate of Lowell High School and then met and married a German immigrant, Hubert Ruping. They settled in Burlington in 1962 to raise their 3 children. Ann worked with her husband to develop Maplewood Construction Company. They were a very good team. Hubert was a knowledgeable and talented carpenter and later developer who took great pride in his workmanship and Ann managed the affairs in the office and was often the voice of reason. Together, the built countless homes and developments in Burlington and the surrounding towns all of which they were proud to say were “Ruping Homes”. At home, Hubert might have run the family business, but it was Ann who ran the family home. Ann was always a mother and homemaker first. She was always there for her children, giving thoughtful guidance and advice and always supporting her family in whatever interests, activities, careers, and life choices they made. She enjoyed maintaining her home inside and out. For many years, she called Burlington’s historic Grandview Farms her home. She was humble in the way she lived, and joked that in all the years of her husband building homes, they never built one for themselves. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, and traveling. She loved the holidays spent with family and her close friends. She loved spending the summers at their vacation home in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. She was a member of the Red Hat Society. She was a longtime member of the United Church of Christ, Congregational Church in Burlington. Ann was the beloved wife of 35 years of the late Hubert J. Ruping. She was the loving mother of Gary H. Ruping of Arlington & his fiancée Brenda Nicolas, Angela Cuccio & her husband Robert of Burlington, and Karl H. Ruping of Cambridge and mother-in-law of the late Keiko Ruping. She was the sister of the late William Mannisto, Martha Galvin, and Betty Stotlemyre. She was the niece of Hilma Gill. She was the proud “Oma” of Jesse, Dylan, & Cody Cuccio, Chandler, Cierra, Garett, and Nanako Ruping. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Thursday, March 21 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Funeral Service at the United Church of Christ, Congregational, 6 Lexington St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Ann’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of MA, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472 or www.alzmass.org. For directions, obituary & online guestbook see www.sullivanfuneralhome..net or www.uccburlington.org