Born in Everett Massachusetts on February 6, 1937, daughter of the late John J (Jack) & Marion R. (Jodrey) McCarthy, Ruth passed peacefully on November 20, 2021 at The Madonna Manor Skilled Nursing & Rehab Center in North Attleboro MA.

Ruth was a graduate of Medford High School (class of 1955). After raising her large family, she decided to begin a nursing career; graduating from Lawrence Memorial Hospital Nurses Aid Program in 1971 and the Licensed Practical Nurse Program through the Greater Lowell Vocational Tech in 1976.

She was an LPN employed by various Massachusetts Hospitals (St John's Lowell, Whidden Memorial Everett and Joslin Diabetes Center Boston MA), she eventually retired from Clinic work while living in Jacksonville, NC.

Ruth spent her childhood in Everett, after which she raised her family in Medford, Lowell and Chelsea MA. Towards the end of her career, she relocated to Jacksonville, NC where she stayed for almost 22 years. Traveling north to be with family, Ruth has been a resident of The Madonna Manor Center since 2019.

A voracious reader of all types of literature, Ruth enjoyed being surrounded by many of the books she loved. Additionally, she was a highly skilled needle art enthusiast-specifically knitting and needlepoint- making countless afghans and blankets upon request. Numerous times these items were donated or auctioned off for charity.

Ruth was the wife of the late Harry L. Gerace, Sr. and the mother of seven children, 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Ruth is survived by her son Francis X. and wife Martina of Winchendon MA, Harry L Jr. and wife Mercy of Revere MA, Brian K. and wife Donna of Attleboro, Joseph A. and wife Ute of Jacksonville NC, and Marion R. Jones and husband Anthony of Wakefield MA. Ruth was predeceased by her son John and surviving wife Rita of Acton MA and Helen A. and her surviving former husband Jamal (Jimmy) Ahmed of Tewksbury MA.

Ruth was the older sister to Barbara White of Newport NC; John J (Jack) McCarthy Jr of Jacksonville FL, Elizabeth Muscarella of Lowell MA, Marjorie Carbone of Londonderry NH, Patricia Weismann of Boxboro MA, and William McCarthy of Farmington ME.  She was predeceased by her sister Carol Sandelin.

Ruth's family wishes to especially thank the staff of Madonna Manor for their exceptional level of care of Ruth during her time there, and Old Colony Hospice, who were actively involved with her end-of-life care.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:  Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Ruth's visiting hours in the Carafa Family Funeral Home, 389 Washington Ave., CHELSEA, on Wednesday, December 1 ^st from 9:30 – 11:30 A.M.  Funeral Services will follow the visitation in the Funeral Home at 11:30 A.M.  Services will conclude with inurnment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.

For the protection of the public health, we kindly ask those not vaccinated to please wear a mask or facial covering.  Masks are optional for all those vaccinated.

DONATIONS:  In lieu of flowers, her family respectfully asks that you consider a donation in Ruth's memory to The Madonna Manor Skilled Nursing & Rehab Center, c/o the Activities Department, 85 North Washington Street, North Attleboro, MA 02760.