September 2, 2011  

GLENFIELD, N.Y.  —  Ruth A. Western, 97, formerly of 6104 Glenfield Rd., died Friday, Sept. 2.

She had been a resident at the Lewis County Residential Health Care Facility, and in the caring hands of the second floor nursing staff and Lewis County Hospice. 

Born July 15, 1914, in Matrinsburg, the daughter of the late Peter and Alice Hartley Henry, she attended Lowville Free Academy. 

She married Nicholas B. Western on May 8, 1935, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Glenfield with Rev. George Brisson officiating. 

She and her husband owned and operated a dairy farm in Old Glendale. They purchased an ice cream parlor in Glenfield and operated it until 1960. Mr. Western died in 1981. Ruth retired from the cafeteria at South Lewis Central School and also had a small in-home bakery. She was famous for her cooking and her kitchen was always filled with love, laughter and wonderful smells of fresh baked pies, rolls and doughnuts. 

Ruth was a caring, gentle woman with a love of country music and a strong Catholic faith.   

With the help of neighbors and relatives, especially her daughter-in-law, Norma and her granddaughter, Michelle, Ruth was able to live independently in her own home into her nineties.  Her grandchildren were devoted and a great source of pride. Visits, letters, pictures and diary entries were so appreciated by the family.

Surviving are a daughter, Sally Western, and her partner, Joe Olore, Yarmouth, Maine; two daughters-in-law, Norma Western, Deerfield, and Judy P. Farris and her husband, Jim, Lowville and Tucson, Ariz.; seven grandchildren, Clay Western and wife Mimi of Mendam, NJ; Valerie Dzuira and husband, John, Cleveland, N.Y., Lisa Spann and husband, Ray, Utica, Michelle Freeman and husband, Steve, Boonville, Brian Western and wife, Marie, Lowville, Jason Sulham and wife, Katie, Raleigh, N.C., and Bailee Sulham and her fiancé, Ethan Burnes, Burlington, Vt.; 13 great-grandchildren and a great-great grandson.  

Two sons, Robert N. Western and Lynn F. Western, two sisters, Frances Cavanaugh and Mae Sauter, a brother, Lester Hartley, and an infant daughter, all died before her.    

Mrs. Western was a communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where a funeral Mass will be said 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 5, in Glenfield with Rev. Christopher Carrara officiating. Burial will be in Old Glendale Cemetery. 

Ruth requested there be no calling hours. 

Memorials in Mrs. Western’s name may be made to: the Glenfield Fire Department. 

Arrangements are with the Sundquist Funeral Home. 

Online condolences may be made at www.sundquistfh.com. 







Information provided by Sundquist Funeral Home of Lowville and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.