Ruby Carver, 89

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Ruby Flood Carver passed away peacefully on September 16, 2017, surrounded by loving family members. 

Ruby was a remarkable woman whose life was full of kindness and grace. She was born in New Britain, Conn., on Sept. 25, 1928, and received her RN degree from New England Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Boston in 1949. She worked as a pediatric nurse in Rhode Island and Massachusetts while her husband, Walter Carver, completed his medical training. They moved to South Hadley, Mass., in 1955 when Walter established an orthopedic surgery practice in Holyoke.  Walter pre-eceased Ruby in 1999. Ruby lived in South Hadley until 2015, when she moved to Williamstown, Mass.

Ruby’s greatest passion was her family. She raised five children, was very involved in the raising of her grandchildren, and spent as much time as she could with her great-grandchildren. Ruby participated in volunteer work, including working with the Junior League of Holyoke, and co-founding a nursery school at the First Congregational Church in South Hadley. 

Ruby’s oldest child, Susan Gamble, passed away in February 2016. Ruby is survived by her four children, David, Bradford, Jane and Donald Carver, her eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Susan’s children are Sara Graves and Derek Gamble. Son David Carver and wife Wende live in Williamstown, Mass.; their daughters are Rachaele Carver-Morin, Rebecca Ticconi and Heather Carver-McWilliams. Son Brad Carver and wife Helen Tramposch live in Wayland, Mass.; their son is Jamie Carver. Daughter Jane Carver and husband Ron Cooper live in Clayton, N.Y. Son Donald Carver and wife Tamara live in West Point, Va.; their daughters are Miranda Martin-Carver and Kaylyn Carver. 

Funeral notice: A memorial service to celebrate Ruby’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2017, at the First Congregational Church of South Hadley.   

Gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Ruby F. Carver to support cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift. Gifts may also be made to the First Congregational Church of South Hadley, MA, One Church Street, South Hadley, MA  01075.