Ruth Walsh Bresee

ONEONTA - Ruth Walsh Bresee, 83, died peacefully Saturday, July 1, 2006 with her loving family by her side in her home overlooking Goodyear Lake where she had spent many happy summers in her youth. She fought her seven-year battle with Parkinson's Disease with a mixture of steadfast bravery, grace and humor.

Ruth was born in Oneonta on May 3, 1923, the third of Rose (Aney) and Earl Walsh's three children. She attended Bugbee School and graduated from Oneonta High School in 1941. Thereafter, she graduated from Oneonta State Teachers College in 1946.

Ruth fell in love with the love of her life, Philip, when she was just 16 years old. They were married during World War II on June 6, 1944. Their sixty-two year marriage was a true partnership of abiding love, devotion and friendship.

After their marriage, Ruth and Phil settled in Oneonta at their home on College Terrace where they raised their three children. In 1980, once the children were grown, they moved to their country home in Fly Creek. For the next twenty-five years, Ruth and Phil divided their time between Fly Creek and their home in Punta Gorda, Florida. In 2005, she and Phil moved to their new home which they dubbed "The Pavillion" in honor of the place where their romance began – the lakeside pavillion on Goodyear Lake built and operated by Ruth's family in the 1930's. In all of their homes, Ruth and Phil enjoyed entertaining family and their many friends.

Ruth was an artist and an athlete, a nurturer and an adventurer, a dreamer and a "doer." She loved animals – especially dogs. Bird watching, sketching and gardening were favorite hobbies. She surrounded herself with books and particularly loved poetry. She was always eager for an adventure, but also enjoyed quiet walks with her dog, a heart-to-heart chat or snuggling up with a good book by the fire.

Ruth was a very good golfer and at one time was President of the Women's Golf Association at the Oneonta Country Club. She enjoyed playing tennis with her friends. An enthusiastic boater and swimmer, Ruth made an annual swim across Otsego Lake until she was in her seventies.

Many winters were spent skiing with her family in New England, Colorado, Utah and Europe. Ruth also enjoyed cross-country skiing and hiking around her home in Fly Creek. In her mid-forties, Ruth even bought a horse and took up riding.

Ruth loved to travel and took wonderful trips with Phil to many European countries, Hawaii, Australia and Alaska. She and Phil used to keep a large map of the world in their upstairs hallway where they would mark with a colored pin each place they had visited. Her last big trip was in 2000, when she returned to Ireland with her daughters for one hilarious week as they attempted to navigate the narrow and harrowing roads in their rental car.

Ruth served on the board of the SUCO Foundation and the Glimmerglass Opera and was a member of the Oneonta Women's Club, the Oneonta Garden Club, the Lake and Valley Garden Club, the Oneonta Country Club and the Oneonta Clothing Guild.

In addition to Phil, Ruth is survived by her sister, Jean Hebert (Tom), son Marc and his wife Elaine of Oneonta, daughter Nancy and her husband George Mitchell of Milford and daughter, Dianne Bresee of Loudonville, New York and former son-in-law, Bob Mayberger of Menands, New York. Ruth dearly loved her eleven grandchildren, John Bresee (Rebecca) of Burbank, California, Kimberly Knipe (Tim) of Westchester, Pennsylvania, Todd Anderson (Kelly) of Niskayuna, New York, Colin Anderson (June) of Cape Coral Florida, Corinne Smith (Chad) of Oneonta, New York, Alexandra Bresee and Caroline Mayberger, both of Loudonville, New York, Lisa Paige (Scott) of Northfield, Vermont, Matt Mitchell (Cristine) of Telluride, Colorado, Sarah Nickoson (C.J.) of Westin, Florida, and Nicole Poole (Jim) of Middleton, Deleware. She also embraced her seventeen beautiful great-grandchildren. Ruth was predeceased by her parents and brother, Richard Walsh.

Ruth's family would like to give special thanks to her loving, constant care givers, Pam Warley, Paula Walke, Peggy Close, Joanie Gregory and Jennifer Smith. The family would also like to give their heartfelt thanks Catskill Area Hospice for its wonderful nurses, Amy Browning, Suzanne Sommers, Barb Kara, Mary Balantic, Mary Ann Kehoe and its supportive staff.

In lieu of flowers, Ruth's family requests that donations be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Dr., Oneonta, NY 13820 or the Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 4845 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326

A private memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family. There will be no calling hours.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.lhpfuneralhome.com.

The Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home at 51 Dietz St., Oneonta, is serving the f