Obituary for Ruth East – Enfield, Granby, Suffield, CT

EAST, Ruth Crawford Ruth Crawford East, 93, formerly of Norwich, died Friday (March 27, 2009). She was born August 23, 1915, in Springfield, MA, one of seven children of the late Joseph G. and Adella (Rohr) Crawford. She was preceded in death by her sisters Irma St. Germain, Dorothy Ericksson, Alberta Conti, Rita Ward and her brothers Karl Crawford and Joseph Crawford. Ruth spent most of her life in Norwich, where she attended St. Patrick's Grammar School and graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1934. She worked as a telephone operator for SNET and was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. On June 11, 1943, she married Cater B. East at St. Patrick's Church in Norwich. Mr. East died July 1, 1989. Ruth was a communicant of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Norwich, where she was an active member of the Rosary Society and Altar Society. Ruth enjoyed her family and friends and was always there to listen and support one no matter what the situation. A loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt, Ruth will be missed by many. She leaves behind her son, Col. (Ret.) Paul B. East and his wife Caroline of Ocala, FL, and her daughters, Virginia E. Austin Ed.D. and her husband Brian of Enfield, and Mary Beth East and her husband Denis of Santa Paula, CA. Nana leaves behind wonderful memories for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Brian Austin Jr. and his wife Donna and their children Sophie, Brian III and Gavin of Granby, Kathleen (Austin) Storrer and her husband Scott and their children Eric, Alex, Ryan and Elizabeth of Newton Square, PA, David Almeida of Santa Barbara, CA, Christine (East) Innes and their children Paul and Noah of Poplar Bluff, MO, Capt. (ANG) Peter East and his wife 2nd Lt. Ashley Anne, USMC, of ​​FL, and SSgt. Charles East, USAF of Clovis, NM. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 3rd at 9 a.m. at the Cummings-Gagne Funeral Home, 82 Cliff St., Norwich, CT, with a Mass of Christian Requiem to follow at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Norwich. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery in Norwich. Visitation hours at the funeral home will be Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Donations in her name can be made to Autism Speaks.org or a charity of your choice.