Ruby Ann Reyes Aiken

Ruby Ann Reyes Aiken passed away on January 26, 2024. Ruby Ann was born September 12, 1961 to an unwed mother who gave her up to Children’s Garden of the Philippines near Manila at six days of age. She was adopted by Dr. Sergio J. Reyes and Dr. Susana S. Reyes six months later and given the name “Ruby” because of how precious she was to them. The family moved to Buffalo, NY in 1967 and then to Dannemora, NY in 1972, where she graduated from Dannemora High School in 1979. Ruby Ann attended the University of Vermont and graduated with a BA in Sociology with a minor in Psychology in 1983. A year later she received her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Boston University. She returned to Burlington, VT where she was a Mental Health Clinician at the Vermont Medical Center ER.

 

Ruby Ann Reyes and Steven Aiken were married on July 11, 1987 and moved to Potsdam, NY where she was student counselor at St. Lawrence University and SUNY Potsdam while Steve got his engineering degree at Clarkson University.

 

In 1990 the couple moved to Nashua NH where Ruby Ann was a mental health counselor at Nashua Youth Council and welcomed their first-born, Benjamin, in 1992. In 1993, the family moved to Pepperell, MA and were joined by daughter Chloe in 1996.

 

Ruby Ann took up a second career as a preschool teacher. She taught at the Page Hilltop School in Ayer for many years as well as several preschools in the area. She loved children and had a special connection with them.

 

Health troubles throughout the years did not dim Ruby Ann’s enthusiasm for life. Her laugh was contagious, her smile brilliant, her hugs a little long, and you always knew that she cared. She cherished days out with friends. She loved the seacoast, cooking for the holidays, and her flower gardens. She absolutely loved Christmas and decorating her dozen or so beautiful Christmas trees.

 

Ruby Ann is survived by her husband of 36 years, Steve, her son Benjamin Aiken and partner Tess Ergen of Jamaica Plain, MA, and her daughter Chloe Aiken Adie and husband Donald Adie of Tyngsboro, MA. Ruby Ann was beloved and will be missed by many.

Visiting hours will be held in the McGaffigan Family Funeral Home, 37 Main St., (Rte. 113) Pepperell, MA on Friday, February 2nd from 5 – 8 pm. Ruby Ann’s Funeral Service will be held at the Community Church of Pepperell, 3 Townsend St., Pepperell on Saturday, February 3rd at 11 am. Burial will follow at Association Cemetery, Pepperell. To receive a Zoom invite to the service livestream, please email faun.macdonald@gmail.com . In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ducks for Cancer via www.ducksforcancer.com/ruby.