Ruth D. Hess

Ruth D. Hess, aged 91, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 14, 2024. Born on February 8, 1933 to Walter Day and Jennie Randolph Day at their Roselle Park home, she was the youngest of four children.

Ruth graduated from Roselle Park High School. She and husband Donald Shields moved to Scotch Plains, where raised her three sons, Steven, Jeffrey, and Kevin.

Among other jobs, she worked as a quality control office for many years at the Ethicon division of Johnson & Johnson.

In 1974, she married Charles Edward Hess. Ruth and “Eddie” moved to their Harris Ave. home in Middlesex in 1979, where Ruth would live for the next forty-five years.

Ruth was very active at the Middlesex Senior Center, enjoyed socializing with friends, cooking, knitting, playing slot machines, and taking in shows and musicals. She was always very loving, funny and independent.

Ruth was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles Edward Hess, by her sons, Jeffrey Shields and Steven Shields, siblings, Dr. Kenneth Day, James Day, Gladys Walcott, and step daughter, Nancy Hess.

She is survived by her son, Kevin, her husband’s children, Ronald and Neil, three grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, two great grandchildren and five step great grandchildren, all of whom were the light of her life. Her warmth and humor will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

A viewing and visitation will be held on Saturday, April 20th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home in Bound Brook.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.