Ruth K. Burns Hetherington

HETHERINGTON, Ruth K. Burns Age 101, of Framingham, formerly of La Mesa, CA, and native of Belmont, Mass., a resident of Countryside Nursing Home in Framingham for the past 12 years. Ruth celebrated her 100th birthday at the Wayside Inn in June 2008 with many family members and friends. A 30-minute documentary film of her life was a feature at the gathering. The blog address for that event Http://ruthturns100.blogspot.com/. Following marriage, Ruth lived in New York for many years and then returned to Boston. She became vice president of the EFP Burns Company and the Mary Burns Bridal Shop on Summer Street in Boston from 1944 to 1969. Ruth also travelled to schools and colleges in New England for the academic caps and gowns division of the family business. When Ruth retired, she moved to San Diego and became a successful realtor from 1970 to 1995. Ruth maintained leadership roles in the Business and Professional Women's Clubs (BPW) of Boston and San Diego, CA, throughout her professional career. Ruth was very proud when the honorary title of Kentucky colonel was bestowed upon her when she represented the BPW club at a national convention in Louisville during the Kentucky Derby. Ruth was also an accomplished painter of many local, historical scenes of New England, Ireland, and the U.S. Southwest, paintings dearly treasured by her family. Beloved wife of the late Allen F. Hetherington and loving sister of the late Ralph J. Burns (Helena), Margaret Canty (Dick), and Edward "Ned" Burns (Isabelle). Devoted mother of four: the late Allen F. Hetherington, Jr. (Nancy), and Peter B. Hetherington (Julie) and now lovingly survived by two daughters: Patricia (formerly Breckenridge and Weatherly) O'Hara and husband, J. Philip O'Hara of Providence, RI, and Katherine "Kate" and her husband, John E. Walker of Framingham. Grandmother of nine: Nan Breckenridge; Allen (Trina), William "Bill" (Yumi), and David Hetherington; Anne Theders (JB); and Michael Weatherly (Bojana) all of California; and, William "Will" Weatherly of Seoul, Korea; Garret F. Walker (Cate), Trumbull, CT; Traci Walker Griffith (John), Boston and Nashua, NH. Great grandmother of nine: Alex Breckenridge; Joseph "Joey" and Elizabeth Griffith; Clementine and Ruby Hetherington; Katie Theders; Brendan and Bridget Walker; and August Weatherly. A Memorial Mass in her honor will be celebrated at St. Linus Church, Hartford Avenue, Natick at 9:00 A.M., Saturday, April 17. Refreshments will follow at the Norton Church Center adjacent. Interment at Cambridge Cemetery will be private. Remembrance of Ruth may be made to the Massachusetts Education Assistance Fund BPW c/o Caroline Coscia, BPW/MA Treasurer, 9 Emerald Street, Apartment B, Wakefield, MA 01880.