Obituary of M. Ruth (Farrell) Pelley

M. Ruth (Farrell) Pelley, 91, of Peabody and formerly of Lynn, died Tuesday morning at the Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of the late George P. Pelley. Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late John H. and Essie Mae (Mackenzie) Farrell. She was raised and educated in Lynn, attended Lynn Schools and was a graduate of St. Mary’ s High School. She had lived in Peabody for 50 years and has spent the last year living in Fall River. Mrs. Pelley was employed by the city of Peabody for 25 years with the last years working as a secretary for the chief of the Peabody Police Department before retiring in 1983. She also was a member of St. Ann’ s Church for 50 years, where she was active in church programs, allied charities, and until recently, a member of the choir. She was a lifelong pianist and enjoyed poetry. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, David and Rory Pelley of Somerset and Denis and Kaye Pelley of Williamsburg, VA; a daughter, Ruth Mackenzie of Hardwick, VT; a sister-in-law, Helen Pelley of Lynn; nine grandchildren, Cathleen Bernardo, Christine Tosone, Maureen Rose, Colleen Fermon, Jennifer Bettencourt, Tracy and Stephen Knowlton, Timothy and Amy Halchuck, as well as 16 great grandchildren. Her Funeral Service will be held on Thursday at 11:00 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 12 Chestnut St., Peabody Facility to which relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visitation prior to the service from 9:30 - 11:00 AM. Burial in St. Josephs Cemetery, Lynn. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Alzheimer’ s Assoc., 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472.