October 3, 1926 – February 12, 2022
Ruth Ann (Woods) Flynn was born on October 3, 1926, and spent her childhood in Woburn, Massachusetts. She was educated at St. Charles School, where she was an excellent student, earning medals at regional spelling bees. The day after Ruth graduated from high school, she became an executive secretary at Revere Copper and Brass in Boston, a role she enjoyed for seven years until she started her family.
In 1948, Ruth met the love of her life, John Charles Flynn, Jr., at a dance in Woburn. They were married at St. Charles Church on October 15, 1950, and built their first home in North Woburn. In the early years of their marriage, they welcomed their son, John Charles Flynn, III, and their daughter, Patricia Ann Flynn. In 1957, the family moved to Reading where they resided for many years, and where they welcomed their daughter, Christine Marie Flynn.
Ruth loved being a wife, mother, and homemaker. She was a dedicated member of the St. Agnes School Guild, where she co-chaired its thrift shop, and where she also developed many cherished, lifelong friendships. She later became an Avon representative, successfully selling door to door for 18 years. Her final job was as a cashier at Triple A Supermarket in Acton, Massachusetts, where she formed enduring relationships with her coworkers and customers.
Ruth and John loved to travel, and they experienced many wonderful trips to Bermuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Europe and other places. They spent a number of winters in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. For decades, they took their children on much loved vacations to Lake George, New York.
Ruth led by example through the challenges that she and her family faced. She helped care for her daughter Patricia and her three young children during Patricia’s two-year illness, and was a loving, devoted and ever-present part of the children’s lives after Patricia’s passing in 1992. She once again demonstrated her great strength when Patricia’s son Michael passed away from cancer in 2002. Ruth herself was a cancer survivor of 26 years.
Ruth and John were blessed with 63 years of marriage. They had joyful celebrations with family and friends at their fiftieth and sixtieth wedding anniversaries. For their sixtieth anniversary, they invited Reverend Marian Williams of the North Congregational Church in Woburn to renew their vows. At that time, they became members of the North Church. Following John’s passing in 2014, the church became an even greater part of Ruth’s life, and she enjoyed every minute of her time as a dedicated member, experiencing the love of new friends in a supportive faith community.
Ruth deeply missed her beloved husband, John C. Flynn, Jr., and leaves behind the grateful family she made with him, her son John C. Flynn, III, her daughter and son-in-law, Christine M. Flynn and James McDonald, who had the joy and honor of having Ruth and John live with them for many years, her granddaughters, Maryellen De Vivo (Rob), Angela Flynn and Laura Flynn (David Esposito), her grandson, Christopher Skulski and her son-in-law William Skulski and his wife Mary Lynne Marnell. In addition to her husband, she greatly missed her daughter, Patricia (Flynn) Skulski, her grandson, Michael Skulski, her daughter-in-law, Dorothy Kelly-Flynn, her sister, Marie MacDonald, and her brothers Harold Woods and Hugh McGowan.
Ruth was a very sociable person who loved people and maintained a great interest in the lives of others. She was a wonderful and engaging conversationalist, who continued to make new friendships late in life. She deeply valued keeping up with her friends, and did so right up until her final days. Everyone marveled at her memory, her inherent intelligence and the attention to detail she never lost. She was also a prolific writer, creating poetry in her early life, and always writing beautiful letters, cards and notes to friends and family. Ruth will be truly missed for the love she so generously gave, her strength in living and the countless ways in which she so thoughtfully touched the lives of others. Her family will forever be incredibly proud of her.
Funeral services will be held from the McLaughlin – Dello Russo Family Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., Woburn, Saturday, February 19th, and 10 a.m. followed by a funeral service at the North Congregational Church, 896 Main St., WOBURN, at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Funeral Home will be held on Friday, from 4 to 8 p.m. Services will conclude with burial at Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington. Out of concern for everyone’s safety face masks must be worn for those attending services. As an expression of sympathy memorial contributions may be made in Ruth’s memory to the North Congregational Church at the above address.
