Obituary of Ruth Wallash

Ruth Wallash (Birute Matulis Valasiniene) was born in a farmhouse in Birzai, Lithuania, on February 19, 1924. At the tender age of 14, she courageously travelled by ship unaccompanied to America to live for a time with her father's sister, Apolonia Zwigaitis, and her husband (Stanley) and family. With the onset of WWII and the subsequent Soviet occupation of Lithuania, Ruth never returned to live with her family in her beloved homeland, although she, her children and her grandchildren have often visited, keeping close ties.

Ruth thrived in the United States, working hard in school, skipping grades as she learned English, then working and caring for a dying relative in Boston. She married Albert Wallash at the age 25, raised four children, Anne Marie (Onute), Theresa, Albert and Peter, and lovingly built a strong-knit family. Ruth was hard-working and dedicated, not only to her family in America, but also to her family in Lithuania. One of her many goals in life was to provide as much support as she could for all of her 6 brothers and sisters and their families.

After the tragic loss of her husband in 1971, Ruth successfully took on the challenges of running the family tavern business, providing for the family, and shepherding all of her children through college and beyond. She was a firm believer in education and gave her children every opportunity. She was deeply religious and a dedicated supporter of St. Andrews Lithuanian Church and the Lithuanian-American community. Many remember to this day the many times she almost single-handedly prepared and served food to hundreds in the Lithuanian Hall and at Lithuanian picnics. No challenge was ever insurmountable to Ruth. She always believed that where there is a will, there is a waywith God's help. She knew how to make things happen.

Ruth treasured her Lithuanian heritage with a passion and passed it on to her children and grandchildren. She kept her family in Lithuania close to her heart and in her prayers every day of her life. Ruth lived her life with courage, compassion, and the deepest love of family and friends. She was a gentle and kind person who seemed to draw people to her. She will be remembered and enlightened by everyone she knew by her deep faith, selflessness and limitless love.

She is survived by her four children: Anne Marie (Onute) Levin (John-deceased), Theresa Brant, Albert (JoAnn) Wallash, and Peter Wallash; grandchildren Alicia Levin (Nic) Picard, Matthew Levin (deceased), Joanna Levin, Birute Brant, Nancy Brant, Alex Wallash, Elyse Wallash, Kristin Wallash, Briana Wallash, and great grandson Thomas Picard. She leaves behind her beloved brothers and sisters in Lithuania, Petras (deceased), Jonas, Povilas, Vytautas, Stefa and Antanina, and their families, and many, many devoted friends.