Ruth J. Norton, 97 of Hopedale, former longtime resident of Ashland passed away Sat. Oct. 5 ^th with her family by her side. She was the wife of the late John L. Norton Jr who died in 2000. Ruth was an active member of the Federated Church of Ashland; serving as a Deacon and helping with the thrift shop for many years. She also volunteered as a "Pink Lady" at Framingham Union Hospital.

She is survived by four children; Beverly Hart of Upton; Kathleen Shilowski and her husband Raymond of Milford; Jay Norton of Spencer; and A. Holly Archer of Milford; eight grandchildren; Lysa Dell'Aquila, Jeffrey Hart, Deborah Derderian, Dianne Spittler, Kerry Norton, Patrick Norton, Scott Archer, and Alex Archer, eleven great-grandchildren, Brea, Brent, Hannah, Matthew, Jack, Joseph, Kayla, Kendra, Olivia, Owen, and Kelsey, and many extended family members.

A funeral service will be held Saturday Oct. 12 ^th at 11:00am in the Chapel of the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main St. Ashland, MA with urn burial to follow in Wildwood Cemetery in Ashland. One calling hour will be held Saturday from 10:00-11:00am prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to the Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mt. Wayte Ave. Ste. 2, Framingham, MA 01702 or the Federated Church of Ashland, MA 01721.

The Norton Family wishes to thank Salmon Hospice and Atria Draper Place of Hopedale for the compassionate care in Ruth's final days.