Ruth Metz

Beloved Wife, Mother and Grandmother Ruth (Pender) (Bowen) Metz, 101, of Manchester, died peacefully on May 9, 2007 at Hackett Hill Health Care Center with her loving grandchildren by her side. Ruth was born in Rahway, NJ on May 28, 1905, the daughter of Joseph F. and Alice J.V. (Connors) Pender. She spent most of her life in Elizabeth and Cranford, NJ. She later retired to Tamarac, FL and then to Pompano Beach, FL. She had been a NH resident since 2005. She was predeceased by her former husband, Joseph Bowen, by her husband, Albert Metz, and by her only daughter, Barbara Ann (Bowen) Buchholz. She was also predeceased by two brothers, William Pender and Joseph Pender, and by a sister, Arabelle Pender Burke. Ruth was employed at Weston Instruments in Newark, NJ where she spent most of her years as a darkroom technician, until her retirement in 1971. Her work served the war effort as she processed aerial photos used for reconnaissance during World War II. Photography was also an avocation as she documented the lives of her family and friends. Ruth loved to travel, especially enjoying annual vacations with her husband Albert. A lifelong Catholic, she had been a communicant of St. Malachy Church in Tamarac and St. Henry Church in Pompano Beach. The most important aspect of Ruth’s life was her family. She raised her daughter alone with the support of her mother and other family while working a full time job. She was a nurturing mentor to her grandchildren and the core of their family. Family members include five grandchildren; Gregory Buchholz of Laconia, Diane Bolduc and her husband David of Manchester, Kevin Buchholz and his wife Margaret Crouch of Bedford, Bruce Buchholz and his wife Erin O’Neil of Bedford and Patricia Gamelin of Manchester; seven great grandchildren, Elizabeth Bolduc Boswell and her husband Kevin, Adam Buchholz, Katharine Bolduc, Nicole Gamelin, Sara Buchholz of Bedford, Rabecca Fulp and Erin Fulp; her former son-in-law, Howard Buchholz of Pompano Beach, FL; and several nieces and nephews down four generations. A memorial gathering will take place on Monday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 at the Parish of the Transfiguration with a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 7:00 PM in the Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Activity Fund, Hackett Hill Healthcare Center 191 Hackett Hill Rd., Manchester, NH 03102. Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium is in charge of arrangements. For more information or to view an on-line memorial, go to www.phaneuf.net