Ruth Bugai

1934 - 2025

Ruth Bugai
Ruth (Thurston) Bugai, 91, of Durham, wife of the late Henry J. Bugai, passed Friday, December 12, 2025, at Apple Rehabilitation on Middletown.
Ruth was born in Guilford, daughter of the late, Howard and Helen (Day) Thurston. She was a Communicant of Notre Dame Church. She spent much of her childhood growing up in Farmington, Maine before her family moved back to the area.
Ruth is survived by four sons, Dennis and his wife Beth (Marchese) Bugai of Middletown, John and his wife Rosanne (Coss) Bugai, James and his wife Jiji (Elopre) Bugai, and Henry Jr. and his wife Annjeannette (Clark) Bugai all of Durham. She is also survived by three daughters Jean Janssen and husband Jack of Auburn NY, Diane Macala and husband Larry of Durham and Carol Massey of Middletown CT. She is also survived by a daughter-in-law Jennifer (Vath) Bugai of Durham, a sister Marion Newcombe, of Dekalb Junction, New York, also thirteen grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Robert (Bob) Bugai, and two sons-in-laws, Robert (Mike) Hale and Ronald Massey, four sisters, Lina Hodgson, Annie Mercier, Marilyn Newcombe and Janice Shepard, along with five brothers, Lee, Howard, George, Carl and Paul Thurston.
Ruth was an avid church goer. She was partners with her late husband in running Powder Hill Dairy Farm in Durham while raising eight kids. After retirement in 1987, she traveled the country by car to all states while taking cruises to Alaska and Hawaii. She went to many Polka music dances and became followers of the Eddie Forman Orchestra, becoming close friends with Eddie and Carol Forman along with band members Frank, Bob and John.
A Funeral Liturgy will be held Saturday, December 20th at 10 a.m. at Notre Dame Church, Main St., Durham. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Middletown. Friends may call at Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St., Middletown on Friday December 19th from 5 to 7 p.m. Those who wish may send memorial donations to a charity of the donor's choice. To share memories or express condolences online, please visit www.biegafuneralhome.com.