Ruth Goetsch, 97

Ruth Lillian (Bachhelm) Goetsch, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, of Attleboro MA., formerly of Williamstown, MA died on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI at the age of 97 after a brief stay.

Ruth was born in Springfield, IL on October 19, 1925 a daughter of the late Henry & Helene (Baker) Bachhelm. She was predeceased by her husband Henry G. Goetsch in 2012 and a sister, Marjorie (Bachhelm) Crane in 1982. Ruth and Henry were married in Springfield IL on December 28, 1946. She is survived by her son H. Edward Goetsch of Laconia, NH, her son David A. Goetsch of Narragansett, RI and her daughter Caryl Ruth (Goetsch) Johnson of Rockport, MA, as well as 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Ruth grew up and attended school in Springfield, IL. After her marriage to Henry they lived in Milwaukee, WI, Madison, WI and Grafton, WI before relocating to Williamstown, MA. In 1960. She more recently relocated to Attleboro, MA to be near her children.

In Wisconsin Ruth was employed as an administrative secretary at the Oscar Meyer Company. In Williamstown she was employed at Spruces Mobile Home Park & the Williamstown Elementary School. She was last employed at North Adams State College as an assistant to the President for 26 years. She was a former Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout den mother, School Committee member for the town of Williamstown, poll worker for the town of Williamstown, and active with the Alzheimer’s Association after her husband’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s’. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of North Adams, MA where she served on many committees and volunteered as a cook at the Berkshire Food Project.

Ruth loved playing the organ, learning to play and read music later in life by taking group lessons in North Adams and Pittsfield on a weekly basis. She traveled to the Big E in West Springfield, MA on several occasions to play at the demonstration booth for Lowry Organs. After relocating to Attleboro she often gave concerts in her apartment at Brookdale Senior Living, both for her immediate neighbors and the adjacent residents of the Alzheimer’s unit.

FUNERAL NOTICE: A service for Ruth at the First Congregational Church of North Adams will be held in the spring. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Cemetery. Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Homes -74 Marshall St. North Adams, MA 01247 is entrusted with arrangements. In lieu of giving flowers the family asks that you donate in her memory to the First Congregational Church of North Adams or to the Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org. To add to the book of memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com