Shrewsbury – Ruth M. (Gustafson) Flynn, 88, longtime Shrewsbury resident, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 26, 2021, with her loving family at her side, at Whitney Place of Westborough. She lost her beloved husband, Lawrence J. “Larry” Flynn, Sr., in March of this year.
Ruth leaves her children: Michael R. Flynn, Lawrence J. Flynn, Jr., Gretchen I. Thibodeau, and Stephen W. Flynn; her grandchildren: Christopher, Nolan, and Jim Flynn, Erica DeFrancesco, Ashley, Zachary, and Jake Thibodeau, Ryan Flynn, and Brett Flynn; her sisters: Shirley Chase, of St. Augustine, FL, and Lois Adams, of Florida and Chatham, MA; and several nieces and nephews. Along with Larry, she was predeceased by her parents, Ragnar and Irene (Johnson) Gustafson, and her brother, Billy Gustafson.
Born, raised, and educated in Worcester, Ruth was a graduate of the Bancroft School. She attended Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, and graduated from Framingham State College in Framingham, where she received her Bachelor’s degree. Ruth enjoyed working for the Worcester County Courthouse, Shawmut Bank, but most of all, enjoyed her time as a teacher in the Shrewsbury School System. In the 1960’s, she had her own yarn shop in the barn of her home on Green Street in Shrewsbury, called the Yarn Barn.
Ruth was an avid knitter and crocheter, creating thousands of beautiful projects over the years, ranging from Icelandic sweaters and socks, to lace ornaments to hang on her Christmas tree. She always kept her knitting bags at her side, wherever she was. Ruth also loved the ocean, spending many summers in Plymouth at White Horse Beach with her family. After retiring, she spent several months of the year in Florida, soaking up the sun, visiting the thrift shops, and knitting. Also, during retirement, she and Larry owned and operated the Specialty Shoppe, an antique and used furniture shop on Grafton Street in Shrewsbury. Ruth loved animals, and always had a pet (or two, or three…).
Ruth was a former member of the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury for many years, and was also a member of their choir. Later in life, she was a faithful member of the First Grafton Baptist Church of Grafton, where she loved attending the Sunday Services.
Ruth’s family will be celebrating her life privately. The BRITTON-SHREWSBURY FUNERAL HOME is honored to be assisting with arrangements.
