Ruth E. (Carlaw) Cunningham, 91, of Mattapoisett died September 20, 2014 at Alden Court Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Center after a period of declining health.
She was the beloved wife of the late Ellsworth L. Cunningham, Sr.
Born in New Bedford on August 3, 1923, Ruth was the daughter of the late David and Annie (Bentley) Carlaw, she lived in New Bedford before moving to Mattapoisett in 1972.
Ruth was a member of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church and a former member of the First Presbyterian Church in New Bedford.
She was a graduate of New Bedford High School, class of 1941. Ruth was a voracious reader who enjoyed bowling, bingo, playing games, going to Foxwoods but her real passion was duplicate bridge.
Survivors include her children, Thomas Rodrigues and his wife Michele of New Harbor, ME, Jean Deliz of Virginia Beach, VA, Beth Anne DeCosta and her husband David of Centerville, David Rodrigues of Hemet, CA, and Ellsworth “Chip” Cunningham, Jr. of Fall River; her sister, Barbara Chachitz of Biloxi, MS; her cousin, Muriel Emery of Mattapoisett and many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her Memorial Service will be held on Thursday at 10:30 AM in the Mattapoisett Congregational Church. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, One Bulfinch Place, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02114. For on-line guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.