Ruth E. Provencher

Ruth E. Provencher, 96
SCARBOROUGH -- Ruth E. Provencher, 96, of Portland, died on Sunday, May 15, 2011, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough. The daughter Simeon F. and Catherine E. (O'Dowd) Provencher, Ruth was born in Pittsfield on June 7, 1914. She attended Maine Central Institute, and following the family move to Portland, she graduated from Deering High School in 1932.
Following graduation she attended the Maine School of Commerce. Ruth then went to work for the next 23 years as a comptometer for the Boston & Maine Railroad.
In 1960 she moved to New York to live with her sister, Carmelita. While in New York she worked for a large law firm as a legal secretary and attended New York University and Hunter College at night.
In 1981, she retired and returned to Maine with her two sisters. They settled in Cape Elizabeth. Ruth's three passions in her life were skiing, traveling and painting. She belonged to the German Ski Club while in New York and the Penguin Ski Club of Maine. During her earlier years Ruth and her sister traveled all over the world.
Ruth was predeceased by her three brothers, Louis, Simeon and Walter, and her three sisters, Catherine, Florence and Carmelita. She is survived by her nieces, Catherine Andreasen of Cumberland, Karen Bouffard of California, nephews, Steven and John Sonia of Massachusetts, and William Sonia of Texas; eight great-nephews, three great-nieces; and many great-great-nieces and nephews. Ruth was the oldest member of a five generations family.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial visitation on Friday, May 20, 2011, from 7-9 p.m., at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery at a later date. Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Ruth's guestbook.
Ruth E. Provencher
Jones, Rich & Hutchins
Funeral Home & Cremation Service
775-3763