Ruth F. (Desmond) Sweeney

Ruth Sweeney, age 90, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Sunday morning, November 16, 2025, at Brightview Senior Living Community in Billerica. Ruth was the beloved wife of the late Gerard Sweeney, with whom she shared over 55 years of marriage until his passing in 2013. 

Born and raised in Woburn, Ruth was the cherished daughter of Timothy “Frank” and Catherine (Driscoll) Desmond. She graduated from Woburn High School in 1952, where she was honored as Co-Drum Majorette, and later continued her education with a focus on hairdressing and cosmetology at the Wilfred Academy of Hair and Beauty Culture in Boston. 

In 1957, Ruth married Gerard Sweeney. Together, they built a loving home and raised six children in a house Gerard constructed on the land where Ruth grew up. Ruth was a devoted homemaker, always putting her family first, and took great pride in creating a warm and welcoming home, especially for her grandchildren. 

Ruth worked for many years in the housekeeping department at the Ramada Inn in Woburn and volunteered her time at the Malcolm White Elementary School, assisting in the library and cafeteria. She was proud of her Irish heritage, a devout Catholic, and a parishioner at St. Charles Borromeo Church throughout her life. 

Known for her humility, strength, and modesty, Ruth was also remembered for her headstrong spirit and unwavering dedication to her family. She found joy in simple pleasures—solving word search puzzles, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and making latch hook rugs. Her greatest happiness, however, came from her grandchildren, for whom she always made time and offered unconditional love. 

Ruth was predeceased by her husband Gerard, her parents, her adored son-in-law Frederick Casey, and her siblings Barbara Harkins, Francis, John, and Anne Desmond. 

She is lovingly survived by her six children: Patricia Riel and her husband Christopher of Billerica; Gerard Jr. and his wife Shelley of Burlington; Kathleen Casey of Woburn; Carol Woloski and her husband John of Woburn; Karen Strack and her husband Phillip of North Reading; Sean and his wife Timberly of Tewksbury.

She also leaves behind twelve grandchildren: Kyleen, Brian, Kevin, and Corey Rose Casey; Melissa Stephenson, Jennifer and Tyler Woloski; Kellianne Creighton, Kyle and Ryan Sweeney; Antoria and Timothy Sweeney; four great-grandchildren: Kaden and Lucas Sweeney, Colm Creighton, and Blair Stephenson; her sisters Elaine Aucoin of Woburn and Jean Donovan of Billerica; her sister-in-law Margaret Bowles of Billerica; her brother-in-law Charles Harkins of Reading; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend her visiting hours on Saturday morning, November 22, from 9:30am to 11:00am at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington. Her Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30am at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, 280 Main St., Woburn. Services will conclude with a burial taking place in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.donate.cancer.org. To view her memorial slideshow or to leave a condolence for her family, please visit www.sullivanfuneralhome.net.