Obituary of Ruth A. Barrett

Ruth A Barrett of Madison, NJ passed away peacefully in her home on October 24th surrounded by her loving family. She was 99 years old. Ruth was born in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1921. She lived in the Boston area until moving to Irvington, NJ in 1932. She attended Whitman Jr College in Newark and enrolled in Seton Hall University in one of the first classes to admit women in a formerly all-male college. On August 11, 1945 Ruth married William Joseph Barrett. They had two children, Pamela and William Jr. A devout Catholic, Ruth was a parishioner at St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison, NJ for 66 years. She held many leadership positions including President of Sodality, Rosary Society, and Mother’s Guild. She was President of the Jr Seton League at Seton Hall University. Additionally, she worked at the College of St. Elizabeth and Silver Burdett & Ginn. A voracious reader, enthusiastic bridge player, and avid letter writer, Ruth spent her life getting to know and enjoy the world. In her retirement, Ruth travelled extensively, while also immersing herself in her community. Some of her favorite trips took her to China, Russia, and Australia, but her most prized vacations were spent with her family in Maine. She served as chairperson for the Senior Center Trip Committee and as Associate on the Senior Center Board. She volunteered over many decades at St. Vincent’s School Library, Morristown Library, and Madison Library. Ruth will be remembered for her determination, fierce independence, the relentless support she gave her family and friends, and infectious laugh. Above all, Ruth was a loving and beloved friend and family member: wife, sister, mother, aunt, nanna, and great nanna. She is preceded in death by parents John and Elizabeth Austin, her husband William J Barrett, her sister Lucille A McCabe, and her granddaughter Rachel Giannone. She is survived by her daughter Pamela Giannone, her son William J Barrett Jr, her son-in-law Thomas Giannone, her three granddaughters Marisa Giannone, Monica Giannone, and Sarah Giannone Barbour and husband Judson Barbour, her great grandson Barrett Barbour, and her great granddaughter Ellison Barbour. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 at 11am at St. Vincent Martyr Church. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Arrangements are under the care of Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, Madison.