Ruth Helen Swinamer

Ruth Helen (McMackin) Swinamer, 88, of Manchester, NH, passed away at Mt. Carmel Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on January 4, 2024. Born in Cambridge, MA on September 1, 1935, she was a daughter of the late Chester and Helen McMackin. She shared 63 years of marriage with her late husband, Stewart “Skip” Swinamer.

Ruth was raised in Cambridge, MA and was a graduate of Cambridge High and Latin School. Ruth and Skip raised their family in Cambridge and Belmont. She worked for 20 years for Intermetrics as a receptionist, from where she retired. Ruth was Sunday School teacher and a nursery school helper at St. James Episcopal Church in Cambridge. Ruth and Skip moved to Goffstown, NH following their retirement. Ruth stayed close with her school friends throughout her life and always looked forward to getting together with them at their “Sew and Sews” Club. Ruth was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who cherished time spent with her loved ones. Most of that time was spent vacationing on Swan Lake in Maine where you would see Ruth on her float. She loved the water and swimming. She was an avid animal lover who took in many strays. She also enjoyed gardening.

Ruth is survived by her daughters, Carol Galvin of Townsend, MA and Cindy Hinckley of Nashua, NH; her grandchildren, Amie Gleason and her husband Scott of Townsend, MA and Jeremy Galvin and his wife Jennie of Haverhill, MA; her great-grandchildren, Elijah, Brody, Jaxon, Elliana and Alexander Joseph (AJ); her step-sister, Karen Broderick of California; as well as nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, Ruth was predeceased by her brothers, Chester, James and John McMackin; her son-in-law, Tom Galvin; and her step-brother, Thomas Broderick.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 12th from 11AM-1PM with a funeral service to honor Ruth and Skip at 1PM. Services will be held at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH. Private burial will be at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/