Ruth Margaret Nordeck Roehm, 90, of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, & Avalon, New Jersey passed away on December 26, 2018, at the Artman Lutheran Home with family by her side.

She was an only child born on March 10, 1928 to German immigrants Wilhelm & Marie Nordeck in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she met, and married Leon Elmer Roehm on September 16, 1950, and was predeceased by her loving husband in 1999, just 4 months shy of their 50th wedding anniversary.

She is survived by her three loving children, their families and a grandson: Nancy, Lee [Dutch] & his wife Barbara, Richard [Rich] & his wife Judi, and grandson Brian.

Ruth graduated from Germantown High School in January 1946 and immediately began working at Bell Telephone. After 4 years she left Bell to marry Lee and begin her family.

Ruth loved her family. She helped her husband earn his college degree in Management from Penn State University, and all three children are Temple University graduates. She supported her children in their chosen activities: Nancy with her music, Dutch with his landscaping and tennis, and Rich with his car, motorcycle, and airplane obsession.… and she still had time to go back to work at Stott Oil in Rockledge, Pennsylvania.

Her three kids inherited much of their creativity from their mom. Ruth was the organist at her childhood church. As an adult she played piano for and sang in her church trio. She was an excellent seamster whose skills spanned from simple clothes, to slipcovers, to complex draperies. She was a great cook. And oh by the way, she could also hang wallpaper like a pro.

After meeting Lee, Ruth spent many happy summers with him, and ultimately the children, in Avalon, New Jersey, where they eventually purchased a lot, built a bungalow, and added-on to create a real second home. Ruth loved Avalon, and spent many hours riding her bike around the island, and sitting on the porch listening to music coming from the Princeton Hotel.

Ruth loved her friends, and maintained long close relationships with many childhood friends throughout her life, and all new acquaintances were quickly added to list. She demonstrated this affection by throwing some of the most outrageous and memorable themed parties at both her Huntingdon Valley and Avalon homes. Skits, Food, and Friends, Ruth was the consummate hostess.

Ruth’s other love was Hawaii. Her first visit was a 30th anniversary gift from her children, where she and husband Lee were instantly smitten, and although more than 20 visits took her to all of the Hawaiian islands, Maui was her favorite, thus explaining the nickname ‘Maui Ruth’.

She was loved and will be sorely missed.

Relatives and friends are invited to join the family on Saturday, December 29, 2018 beginning at 11:00 a.m. for Visitation, with a Service of Celebration beginning at 12:30 p.m., at the Emil J. Ciavarelli Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 951 East Butler Pike, Ambler, PA 19002.


In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth’s memory may be made to the Montgomery County SPCA. https://www.montgomerycountyspca.org/Page/HowYouCanHelp

Condolences may be made at www.ciavarellifuneralhomes.com.

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