Ruth Rebecca Beach

1922 - 2021

Ruth Rebecca Beach, 98, of Bloomfield, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, surrounded by her family at her home. Born in Newark, NJ on October 6, 1922, daughter of the late John Nicholas and Elizabeth (Curley) O'Donoghue, she moved to Brooklyn, NY with her family as a young girl and attended the first public school for African Americans in New York City, PS #67, Charles A. Dorsey School in Downtown Brooklyn. After the depression started, Ruth moved again with her family to San Juan, Trinidad where she spent the rest of her childhood years. In 1953, Ruth returned to the US and settled in Hartford near her cousin Alvin Waite. She worked for a cleaning company while taking courses at night in the emerging field of data processing. After completing her coursework, Ruth took a position at the Aetna, Security Life Insurance Company and later worked for The Hartford where she stayed until retirement in 1989. After retirement, she moved to Kissimmee, FL where she enjoyed many years and made many new friends. While living in Florida, Ruth was an active member of AARP, Buenaventura Lakes Chapter #4259 where she served as the chapter secretary and was recognized for her extensive community service over the years. During elections, Ruth enjoyed volunteering at the polls and she even worked during the 2000 Presidential election and assisted with the hand-counting of ballots after the results in Florida were contested. In 2001, Ruth returned to Connecticut and lived in West Hartford so that she could be closer to her daughter. She immediately got involved in the community and was active at the North End Senior Center in Hartford and at the West Hartford Senior Center. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling and visiting family, drawing, painting, and volunteering. Most of all, Ruth will be remembered as a very kind and social person who loved to help others. She leaves a daughter, Eileen Burr and her husband Freeman of Bloomfield; four nieces and nephews, Pauline O'Donoghue of Miami, FL, Kenyon Beach of Houston, TX, Derrick Beach and his wife Niya of Houston, TX, and Valerie Beach-Barnett of Atlanta, GA; and a host of other nieces, nephews, and relatives in England, Trinidad, Switzerland, and throughout the United States. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by three brothers, Robert, Arthur, and John O'Donoghue; and a nephew, Selwyn Beach. Her family will receive friends on Monday, February 15, 10-11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m., at the Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor. Burial will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 200 Executive Blvd S #4b, Southington, CT 06489 or to the American Cancer Society, 111 Founders Plaza 2nd floor, East Hartford, CT 06108. For online condolences or to view the service live or after Monday, February 15th at 11 a.m., please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com.