Ruth Esther (Towner) Bennett, 101, beloved wife of Leo V. Bennett, Jr., who predeceased her in 2012, passed away peacefully at her home in Chicopee on Saturday, February 28, with her family at her side.

Ruth was born on February 5, 1925, in Boston, MA, a daughter of David J. and Helen E. (Dawson) Towner, she was reared and educated in Boston and graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1942.

Ruth had a long extensive working history, beginning while in high school working for a doctor. Over the years she worked for S.S. Pierce, Pastene’s in Boston, then after her children were older, she went back to work for the Springfield Public schools, and ended her career as a Principal Clerk at the Registry of Motor Vehicles where she worked for 20 years in numerous locations, Springfield, Westfield, Chicopee, Great Barrington and Holyoke.

She was a longtime resident of Chicopee and parishioner of the former St. Mary’s Church in Chicopee and current parishioner of St. Rose de Lima Church also in Chicopee.

Ruth had a multitude of interests that include gardening, crocheting, reading, solving puzzles and playing golf at her favorite golf course in Amherst, Hickory Ridge.

Her true passion was being with her family and celebrating all the holidays and special moments that occurred throughout her life.

Ruth leaves behind her loving children, Henry J. Bennett and his wife, Ann of Cleveland, TN, C. Lee Bennett and her husband, Ronald Minor of Westfield, and Melissa E. Bennett and her husband, Scott Lafond of Chicopee, sister, Lillian F. Leary of Plymouth, MA, five cherished grandchildren Henry J. Bennett, Jr., David M. Bennett, Vincent P. Bennett, Emily H. (Bennett) Crane and three great grandchildren.

She was a participant in the New England Centenarian Study out of Boston University School of Medicine and donated her brain to their study to further research into aging well vs. dementia.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her infant son, David, and sister, Helena J. MacKinnon.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday, March 6, for a period of visitation for Ruth from 10 – 11 a.m. at Brunelle Funeral Home, 811 Chicopee St., Chicopee, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. at St. Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan St. Chicopee. Committal prayers and burial will follow after the Mass at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth’s name may be made to Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104 or to Shriners Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104. For online sympathies and more information please visit www.brunellefuneralhome.com