Ruth Marie Fondi

January 01, 1970

Ruth Fondi left for heaven on May 21, 2024. She was 97 years young. Ruth was born in Detroit, Michigan, the only daughter of Gwendolyn and Alphonse Bruss. Ruth grew up with three protective brothers, Hank, Jim and Howard.

Ruth is predeceased by her husband, Ben and recently by her daughter, Christine Fondi. Ruth is survived by her brother, Howard Bruss, and her children, James (Kathy Correll), Mary (Gregg Clayton), Susan (Allen Wenger), Ann (Keith Speidel), Laura (William Glaser) and Paul (Christine Ashton), and her sixteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Ruth attended college at Ohio University in 1945 where she met and fell in love with a brash young handsome GI, Benny Fondi, who swept her off her feet. After graduating from Ohio University and getting married, Ruth’s career spanned many decades. First as a mother and then as a librarian. Ruth was an avid reader, and this led her to her choice of study. She was a woman ahead of her time, while juggling parenting seven children, she went back to school and received a Masters in Library Science from Rutgers University. Ruth started her professional career working as a High School librarian in New Jersey then teaching graduate and undergraduate students at Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Ruth continued her education pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Library Science at the University of Pittsburgh, completing all of her degree requirements but her dissertation. Although she did not complete her PhD, her family always said she also had an “honorary degree” in Social Work because she co-wrote her husband’s dissertation for his Social Work degree. Ruth served as the Director of the Sewickley Public Library in Sewickley, Pennsylvania for 25 years. During her tenure, she made significant improvements to the building and the services it provided to the community. After Ruth retired, she cared for her devoted husband until he passed away from dementia in 1997. She then spent several years living on the Jersey Shore in Somers Point, until she moved to Sherwood Oaks in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.

Ruth’s legacy is her deep faith, loyalty, and morality with the kindest smile ever seen. She said the rosary every day and kept a beautiful collection of Madonnas in her home. The Madonna symbolizes the profound love between a mother and her child, making it a perfect representation for Ruth who embodied gentleness and care as a mother to all of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Ruth practiced her faith daily through her tremendous kindness, patience, and generosity towards others. Ruth touched so many lives, and she only ever saw the good in people. She loved playing cards, reading books, eating rocky road ice cream, watching tennis, and being with her loved ones. She was the kindest woman you would ever know. The only exception to this is that Ruth was an aggressive and ruthless card player, a fact to which all of her children and grandchildren can attest!

Ruth showed her family the true meaning of good and she filled our lives with love. Her passing has left a hole in our hearts, but the way Ruth lived her life will continue to inspire us for years to come.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Bridges Hospice at bridgeshospice.org or 4130 Monroeville Blvd, Monroeville, PA 15146, or your local public library.