Ruth Adelaide Hardy Seifert

Ruth Adelaide Hardy Seifert, age 95, died Saturday, May 17, 2014, at home with family in Pepperell, MA.

Ruth was born July 17, 1918, in Hollis, NH. She was one of five children of Harold and Estelle (Wooden) Hardy, who owned Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, still in family operation today after 168 years.

Ruth graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. She married Robert Lievens of Hollis, NH. He died in their first year of marriage, after which Ruth taught home economics along with chemistry and coaching basketball, in Henniker, Hillsborough and Derry, NH.

In 1951, Ruth met Francis W. Seifert at a dance sponsored by the Groton Hunt Club at the Pepperell Town Hall. Ruth and Francis married on December 19, 1952.

In the early 1960's after raising daughters Linda and Janet, Ruth returned to teaching, at North Middlesex Regional High School in Townsend, MA. She proposed and taught a program of food science classes for boys. In their hats and aprons the student chefs affectionately called her "Ma Seifert." She retired in 1979 after 20 years of service.

Ruth took an active role in the Daughters of The American Revolution, the Pepperell Woman's Club and as Secretary in the National Hardy Association. She served the Community Church of Pepperell as a Deaconess, Guild member, and coordinated luncheons, dinners, holiday fairs and apple festivals. She sewed infant hospital gowns, bonnets and blankets for the Smile Train Organization. She knit caps for soldiers to wear under their helmets. In retirement, each fall for over ten years, Ruth took it upon herself to knit and donate dozens of mittens to the local elementary school.

Ruth and Frank with family and friends danced ballroom, played bridge, walked, swam, canoed, and traveled the national parks.

She is survived by her daughters Linda Seifert and her partner Alan Good of Manhattan, NY, Janet Seifert Hanson and her husband Timothy Hanson of Rye, NH, her granddaughter Emily Wagner, three grandsons Brett, Erik, and Luke Hanson, and her sister Eleanor Whittemore of Hollis.