Ruth (Souza) Schwab

Ruth (Souza) Schwab died peacefully, surrounded by love on July 17, 2018 after a brief illness. She was born in Providence, the daughter of the late Domingos and Mary (Furtado) Souza. She was loved by many, especially her husband of 60 years John Schwab, children Paul, Tammy, Chris and Kristin Schwab, grandsons Aidan and Brett, daughters-in-law Jen and Therese, son-in-law Wayne (her computer guru), sister Marge Canisius with whom she had many adventures (On the Road Again was their motto), and her husband Ed of Sheboygan, WI, late siblings Richard, Russell and Lillian Patrick Souza, and cherished girlfriends Helen Lewis, Joan Martin, her “other daughter” Karen and her childhood friend Lucille. She also had many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.

Ruth had a zest for life. She loved to laugh and could take a good teasing, easily laughing at her own idiosyncrasies. Her sense of adventure and curiosity kept her trying new things, even embracing technology like a teenager, although she had more computer viruses than we can count (much to poor Wayne’s chagrin)! She loved a good road trip which would not be complete unless she got lost and frantically called one of her children for help. She was the life of the party, making her signature Portuguese soup and stuffies for a crowd and playing cards till all hours of the night with her boys and their friends. The door to her beloved Tiffany Circle home was always open, a second home to so many that loved her.

Ruth was creative and talented having countless interests over her 80 years, many of which were passed on to her children and grandchildren. She loved tending to her beautiful gardens, floral arranging, photography, garage sales, decorating her beloved home for the holidays on Tiffany Pond, reading, slot machines, a good bloody mary with a cigarette and words with friends. But most of all, she loved scouring beaches for sea glass and treasures.

Calling hours are from 5pm-8pm on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at Perry-McStay Funeral Home, 2555 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island 02914.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the organizations that provided Ruth and her family with compassion and support:

Somerset Firefighters Local 2649, 475 County Street, Somerset, MA 02726
Southcoast VNA Hospice, 200 Mill Road, Fairhaven, MA 02791 www.southcoastvna.org