Marjorie Ruth Candela

Marjorie Ruth Candela, 77, passed away on Sunday, June 2, 2013 after a 5 year battle with Alzheimer’s and Auto Immune Liver Disease. During her illness, Ruth was lovingly cared for by her family and many devoted and heroic caregivers who allowed her to live her life surrounded by tenderness and affection.

Ruth was the wife of the late Gerald Candela, of Ashtabula, Ohio and the daughter of the late Claude and Mildred (Clark) Corbin. She was educated in Natick schools and was a graduate of Natick High School. Ruth is survived by her daughter, Andrea L. Gagnon and her husband, Christopher, of Natick; her son, David J. Candela and his wife, Vanessa, of Southborough and five grandchildren, Ave Gagnon, Allegra Gagnon, Levi Gagnon, Sadie Candela and Hope Candela, who were the greatest joy of her life.  She is survived by her sister, Betty LaCroix of Millis, her brother-in-law, Sonny LaCroix, her sister-in-law, Ruth Ann Corbin of Milford and her brother-in-law Clement Gentene of Ashtabula, Ohio.  She was predeceased by her sister Priscilla Mahoney, her brother-in-law John Mahoney, her brother Richard Corbin and her sister-in-law Virginia Gentene.

Ruth spent the beginning of her married life living in the Bahamas and Del Rio, Texas.  She and Gerry transferred back to New England where they raised their family in Hampton, New Hampshire and Westborough, Massachusetts. While living in Westborough, Ruth was a dedicated mother and Athletic Booster.  She was a committed member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church where she enjoyed volunteer outreach.  In 1997, Ruth and Gerry retired to Ashtabula, Ohio where Ruth was a member of the Altar Rosary Society.  She enjoyed golfing and entertaining friends and family.  Following Gerry’s death, Ruth moved back home to Northborough, Massachusetts, where she was a hospice volunteer and cared for her grandchildren full-time.  She loved gardening and walking.

During her illness, Ruth spent several years living with her daughter’s family in Natick and most recently lived in the Reflections Memory Care Neighborhood at Traditions of Wayland.  She died peacefully on Sunday in the care of Life Choice Hospice at Wayland Nursing & Rehab and in the adoring presence of Andrea and David.

Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 7, at 10:30 A.M. at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main St., Westborough. Interment will be private.
A calling hour will precede the funeral from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. at the Rand-Harper-Pickering Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.

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