Ruth E. Sousa, 87, of Milford and formerly of The Villages, FL, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 6, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Ruth was the devoted wife of the late Dr. John A. Sousa.
Born in Arlington, Massachusetts on March 31, 1936, she was a daughter of the late George H. and Mary (Burns) Musgrave. During her youth, she was raised in Natick, MA and was a graduate of Natick High School. Ruth settled in Framingham, MA with her husband John after meeting at Natick Laboratories where they were both employed. John and Ruth had three children, and shared many happy memories including temporary move to the United Kingdom while John completed his PhD at Kings College in London.
Following her husband’s retirement, Ruth and John spent much of their time traveling the world and spending time at their residences in North Conway, NH and The Villages, FL. During their retirement Ruth spent a lot of time reading which she always had a book going and being part of the Red Hat Reading Society. Ruth and John enjoyed playing golf together and Ruth enjoyed staying active with water aerobics.
Ruth tenaciously battled breast cancer for many years prior to her passing.
In addition to her parents, Ruth is predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Dr. John A. Sousa; her daughter, Cynthia Sousa McAuliffe; brothers, Charles H. Musgrave, George Musgrave and Robert Musgrave; and brothers-in-law, Richard Farley and Larry Devereaux.
She is survived by her sons, John G. Sousa and his wife Karen of Nashua, NH and Mark F. Sousa and his wife Donna of Amherst, NH; son-in-law Joseph McAuliffe of Villa Rica, GA; six grandchildren, Jacqueling and her husband Joe, Nicole, John Cameron, Kati and her husband Brad, Shauna, Viktoriya and her husband Logan; four great-grandchildren, Jordan, Jude, Jovie and Rory; her sisters, Mary Farley of Centerville, MA and Eleanor Devereaux of Dover and formerly of Yarmouth, MA; brother-in-law, Joseph Sousa and his wife Kathy of Amherst, NH; sister-in-law, Marie A. “Toni” Musgrave of Syracuse, NY; and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Parish of the Resurrection, 449 Broad Street, Nashua, Friday, January 19th at 11 a.m. Family and friends are invited to attend. Interment will take place at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen at a later date. Donations may be made in her memory to Home Health & Hospice, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.farwellfuneralservice.com The Farwell Funeral Service, 18 Lock Street, Nashua is assisting the family with arrangements.
