Ruth Kealy, 72 of Hackettstown, NJ passed away on June 18, 2020. Ruth was born October 2, 1947 on Staten Island, New York City, NY. She was the youngest of seven children born to John Joseph and Anita (Lupton) Kealy.

Ruth lived in the village of Great Kills on Staten Island until the age of nine. Her father (known as Jack) died when Ruth was eight and she and her mother moved to Greeley, Colorado a
year later. She attended schools in Greeley and Colorado Springs and graduated from
St. Mary’s High School (Colorado Springs, CO) in 1965. Ruth then attended
Presentation College in Aberdeen, SD, graduating with an associate’s degree in 1967.
Ruth moved to Hackettstown, NJ, in 1967.

She began working at M&M Mars in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s and continued there until her retirement in 2008.

Ruth (‘Ruthie’) acquired a number of friends during her tenure at M&M Mars and stayed
close to many of them for the rest of her life. It seemed that Ruth knew everyone in town
and was always greeted with an “Hello Ruthie.”

She had a great sense of humor exemplified by a genuine belly laugh. She was a person who held to her own opinions and principles and didn’t suffer fools gladly. She was a woman of strong faith but was very private about it. She was a fixture at her favorite tavern and loved participating in the banter. She very much valued her family. When her daughter and son-in-law came to visit from Seattle, there was always at least one road trip to see other family
members living in New Jersey, and it was not out of the ordinary for the three of them to
catch a Broadway show in New York.

Ruth is predeceased by her parents (Jack and Anita Kealy) and her siblings: Jane Monti, Anne
Kapp, Betty Lou Lockhart, Eileen Cassar, Luke John Kealy and Michael Kealy.

She is survived by her many nearby friends and extended family as well as her daughter
Colleen (and Chris) Praetorius of Seattle, her granddaughter Liz (and Stephen)
Devenny and great grandsons Evan, Colin and Travis of Gustavus, Alaska.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. For those wishing to leave online condolences please visit, www.cochranfuneral.com