Ruth E. (Bell) Lynch

Ruth E. Lynch, 88, passed away on Friday, June 18, 2021.  She was the daughter of the late William and Bedelia (Reese) Bell.  She was predeceased by her loving husband, Robert of 60 years.  Ruth leaves behind her eight children-Eileen Borders and her husband William of Lynn, Kathleen Czepiel and her husband Michael of West Springfield, Patricia Dittrich and her husband Paul of Holyoke, Rosemary Larrow and her husband Mark of South Hadley, Robert J. Lynch, Jr. of Westfield, Joan Gazaille and her husband Daniel of Palmer, Ruth Shields and her husband John of Monson, and Michael Lynch of South Hadley. Ruth had a bond with “King” her special four-legged friend.  She is also survived by her 13 grandsons, Timothy, Shaun and Ryan Borders, Michael Czepiel, Matthew Czepiel and his wife Ashton, Andrew Lynch and his wife, Karen, Erich Dittrich, Jonathan Larrow, Patrick Larrow-Pierce and his husband Derek, Christopher Larrow, Joseph Gazaille, Matthew Gazaille and Liam Shields.  She is also survived by one granddaughter, Madeleine Ruth Gazaille.  Ruth also will be missed by her four great grandchildren, Lily Czepiel, Jordan and Gianna Lynch, and Everett Czepiel.  She is also predeceased by many siblings and leaves behind many nieces and nephews. 

Ruth was born and raised in Holyoke, a 1950 graduate of Holyoke High School.   She lived in South Hadley for 59 years.  As you can imagine, Ruth’s most cherished job was that of mother and nana.  Ruth enjoyed baking and cooking for her large family.  Her famous red velvet cake was always a big hit.  Her favorite tv shows were Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy and she loved sitting for hours doing puzzles.  She also enjoyed the July getaway weekend to the beach with her daughters.  Many of us will never forget the Sunday afternoon neighborhood wiffle ball games in our backyard which we called “Nana’s Stadium” as well as the annual Labor Day picnic at our South Hadley home.  She worked and retired from the Anthropology Department at UMass Amherst.  She also volunteered at St. Jerome Church and Jericho.  She was a member of the Mass. Citizens for Life and was a communicant of St. Jerome.  The family is thankful for the support received by the River Mills staff.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Funeral Mass on Thursday, June 24 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Patrick’s Chapel of St. Jerome Church, 169 Hampden Street, Holyoke.  The burial will follow in St. Jerome Cemetery, Northampton St., Holyoke.  There are no calling hours.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth’s memory may be made to Jericho/Bureau for Exceptional Children & Adults, Box 1039, Holyoke, MA 01040-1039 or a charity of your choice.

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