Date of Birth:
Thursday, November 15, 1928
Date of Death:
Sunday, October 3, 2021
Age:
92 years old

Ruth G. Foley

Ruth G Foley November 15, 1928 – October 3, 2021

Our beloved mom, Ruth Foley, went to eternal rest on Sunday, October 3^rd, reunited with family she had been missing dearly: Our Dad John, our sister Patsy and our grandparents, Stanley and Catherine Burlager. She was born in Duluth, Minnesota, and grew up on a dairy farm in Washburn, Wisconsin, the fifth of eleven sisters and brothers.

After graduating from Washburn High School she worked at Bell Telephone in Duluth. Considered a big adventure back in the 1940’s, Mom and her friend, Betty, moved to Portland, Oregon, continuing to work for the phone company. John traveled West to propose to Ruth on Mt. Hood in 1950. They were married in September 1951.

Four daughters and a son followed quickly after, with a final daughter completing our family of six children. Life revolved around this busy household and St. John’s Church and School. Summers were spent with visits to the farm and later, for a number of years, a cabin on Lake Elora.

Mom planted roses and shrubs, refinished windows, stained decks, and enjoyed painting and updating our family home. For over 30 years she bowled in a women’s league every Wednesday afternoon, proud of her best average of 165.

Christmas was always Mom’s favorite season. She decorated with a gorgeous Norway pine tree covered with large Polish ornaments, the table set with Christmas china and the yearly baking of potica for the holidays. Among Mom’s other favorites were Bingo, lunch with her daughters, Red Hat Ladies events, sitting in the sunshine and music. The stereo was often playing Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin or her favorite, Mickey Gilley.

During the first 20 years of their marriage our dad traveled for business, with mom managing the household and 6 children while he was away Monday through Friday each week. Mom then began working alongside Dad in his business as a funeral director until their retirement in 1994.

Mom loved to travel. Throughout their working years she and Dad went to many national conventions, a treasured trip to Israel and Jerusalem, and Hawaii. In later years they enjoyed taking cross country bus tours. One of Mom’s favorite trips was meeting daughter, Joan, in Rome, Italy in 1984; visiting the Vatican and attending mass with Pope John Paul II.

Family was the center of her life. Our Mom loved babies, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren meant the world to her. Regular visits from her children and their families were special for Mom; she loved nothing more than a very full house! She was a strong, hard working, rarely complaining, woman of great faith who had a positive attitude even as her health declined in the past few years.

She was preceded in death by our Dad, John Foley, our sister Patricia (Patsy) Kurancik, her brothers Bernard and James, and sisters Josephine Kam, Dolores Freeman, and Mary Jean Hidding. Mom will be dearly missed by her children Joan Foley (Per Jarnberg), Jean Anich (Jim), Son-in-Law Rudi Kurancik, Paula Hanson (Dave), Tim Foley (Pat) and Charlene Foley-Schwartz (Tony). Grandchildren Per-Michael Jarnberg, Keeley Mendez, Joel Kurancik, Julie Zimny, Lindsey Seipp, Courtney Ziller, Matt and Lauren Foley, Gabrielle, Gunnar and Grady Schwartz and great-grandchildren Eden, Hazel, Clover, Felix and Silas Mendez, Addison, Nora and Halle Zimny, Callum and Nash Seipp and Quincy Ziller. Her surviving siblings are Connie Uhlig, Robert Burlager, Patricia Anderson, Tom Burlager and Kathleen Yeoman.

Our family would like to thank the Active Life Staff at The Waters on Mayowood: Mary, Mary Beth, Marni and Anita who enriched Mom’s days with fun activities and supported her spiritual life. We are grateful to Teresa B., Emma, Sam and Maria, for the loving care and special attention they showed our mom over the past three and a half years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to our family, which will be directed to The Specialty Care Activities at The Waters or to Mayo Hospice.

The funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 9, 2021 at St. Charles Borromeo Church (1900 E 6^th Street St. Charles, MN) officiated by the Reverend Tim Biren. The visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Washburn, Wisconsin on Sunday, October 10, 2021.

For the health and safety of everyone, masks are strongly recommended. Those that are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are encouraged to leave an online condolence or attend via livestream provided by https://redeemersaints.org/.