Ruth Eleanor Delancey

Ruth Eleanor DeLancey, 89, a former Meadville and Vero Beach, Florida resident, died at home in Evanston, IL Thursday, November 13, 2008 after a brief illness, having been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

She was born in Meadville April 7, 1919, a daughter of the late Scott C. and Ettella R. Smock Maxwell.  She married Richard P. DeLancey Nov. 3, 1939 and he preceded her in death in 1967.

In Meadville, Ruth was a member of Old Stone United Methodist Church, Order of Eastern Star, and had worked as a beautician at several area funeral homes.

The family moved to Vero Beach in 1960, and while living there Ruth worked at Berggren’s Toy Store and Variety Store and Alma Lee’s Children’s Clothing Shop.

When hurricane Jeanne destroyed her Vero Beach Condo in 2004, Ruth began splitting her time with her daughters, Charlotte “Trink” Newman of Evanston, IL and Karen Sutton of Gulf Breeze, FL.  She is also survived by 4 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Jean Peters and a brother, Robert C. Maxwell.

Graveside services will be Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in Greendale Cemetery, 700 Randolph St., Meadville with the Rev. James Hammerlee, Retired United Methodist Clergyman officiating.

Memorials may be made to NorthShore University Health Systems Home and Hospice Services, P.O. Box 1006, Skokie, IL 60076-8006, who took such good care of Ruth in her last days, or The Zoo of Northwest Florida, 5701 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563, a place Ruth loved to visit and where her daughter is a docent.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville.