Ruth M. Viens

Ruth M. Viens

Turners Falls, MA - Ruth M. Viens passed away at Franklin Medical Center after a brief illness on July 26th, 2025.

Born at home in Turners Falls, she was the daughter of the late Lillian Cate and Alphonse SanSoucie, and the wife of the late James L. Viens, who passed on December 2, 2016. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June before Jimmy's passing. Ruth was also preceded in death by her older brother, Norman, and his wife, Mary Louise.

Ruth graduated in 1950 from Turners Falls High School and in 1953 from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Springfield - she helped plan many of the TFHS class reunions. She was a registered nurse for over 40 years, working primarily at the Farren Memorial Hospital in both Pediatrics and in the OR, and for two years as a surgical nurse at the Franklin Medical Center after the closing of the Farren. When the new, repurposed Farren Care Center opened, she returned to her former facility and retired after four years, at the same time as her husband. A year into their retirement, they enjoyed a two-month auto trip to Nova Scotia, and across the U.S., up into British Columbia, and down the west coast of California.

Ruth was a devoted parishioner and communicant of Our Lady of Peace Church, formerly Saint Mary's Church, in Turners Falls. She was a long-time member of the women's group at the church and a Saint Peregrine Visitor at the Farren and Poet Seat Nursing Home. She was active in the church's community meals program, cooking or baking for the weekly meals.

She felt especially blessed to have her family nearby and to be able to enjoy her 13 grandchildren and, later, 11 great-grandchildren as they were growing up.

Ruth and Jimmy rarely missed the kids' many school and sporting events throughout the years. She enjoyed being active with basket making, gardening, knitting, apple picking, crocheting scrubbies for the church bazaar, sewing pajamas, clothes, and Halloween costumes for her grandchildren, and exercising and socializing at the Senior Center.

Nothing made her happier than spending time with her family.

She will be missed by her children: Thomas and wife Heather of Colrain; Janine and husband Edward Boguslawski of Springfield, VT; Robert of Augsburg, Germany; William and wife Pame of Feeding Hills; and Amelie "Amy" and husband Michael Johnson of Montague; and grandchildren, Hannah, Eben and Luke Viens; Lee and Zoe Gaines; Sarah Wheeler and Jeffrey Boguslawski; Christopher and Nicolas Viens; Amanda Harris; and Emma, Madelyn and Eliza Johnson; and great grandchildren Izabella, Jennalyn, Oliver, Julian, Ellis, Remy, Carter, Mason, Aaron, Colette, and Rowan.

A calling hour will be held Monday, August 11, 2025, from 8:30am till 9:30am at Kostanski Funeral Home, 1 Kostanski Square, Turners Falls, MA followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00am at Our Lady of Peace Church, 90 Seventh St., Turners Falls, MA with Rev. Stanley J. Aksamit, pastor officiating.

Burial will follow in St. Anne's Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Franklin County Community Meals, FCCMP, P.O. Box 172, Greenfield, MA 01302 or online at https://www.fccmp.org and to the Senior Center at the Montague Council on Aging, P.O. Box 166, Turners Falls, MA 01376.

For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.