Obituary of Ruth Mary Cash

Ruth Mary Eaton Cash, 91, beloved wife of the late Dr. George C. Cash, died peacefully Friday, June 17, 2011, at her home with her daughters at her side. Ruth's faith and devotion to family guided her life. She was the third of eight children born to dairy farmers Hiram and Matilda Shaffer Eaton March 29, 1920, on the family farm on the Five Mile Road, Allegany. Her primary education was in a one-room schoolhouse. Ruth was salutatorian of the 1937 graduating class of St. Elizabeth's Academy, Allegany, where she played cello in the orchestra and was drum majorette of the award-winning St. Bonaventure Kaydettes marching band. Her father paid for her education with dimes saved in the hollow center of the kitchen table, and Ruth helped him deliver milk in the morning until he dropped her off at St. Elizabeth's for school. To achieve her dream of becoming a nurse, Ruth worked in Olean at the going wage of 11 cents per hour until she accumulated the $288 needed for tuition at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Buffalo. Following her training, she worked for Mercy Hospital as assistant nursing supervisor of the medical-surgical unit before returning to Olean in 1942 as nursing supervisor of obstetrics at St. Francis Hospital. Serendipitously, Ruth's future mother-in-law came under her care because the surgical floor was full, and talked of no one other than her son, a doctor in the U.S. Army, stationed at Prince Rupert, British Columbia. That doctor, Dr. George Colling Cash, came to Olean to practice in 1945, and after a whirlwind courtship, he and Ruth were married May 10, 1947, and shared 38 wonderful years before his death Jan. 28, 1986. Besides raising eight daughters, Ruth was always actively involved in her husband's medical practice. In 1951, they purchased the Gilligan house at 310 East State St. and operated the Mother Cabrini Multiple Sclerosis Center there until 1953. Ruth traveled to Seattle, Wash., to learn new techniques in treatment. They also had an office in their home at 111 North Clinton St. and a satellite office in Port Allegany, Pa. As the medical practice and their family grew, they moved in 1961 and built an office onto the home. Ruth worked alongside her husband in his family practice. Ruth was always on the cusp of new trends in maternity care. She was ahead of her time in advocating what would later become known as birthing suites: comfortable, family-centered birthing rooms with fathers present at deliveries and siblings able to visit. She was instrumental in initiating and implementing Lamaze birthing classes, La Leche breastfeeding support groups, and Natural Family Planning instruction to area women. Ruth's pro-life beliefs facilitated her compassionate care to single mothers. Her love of children and her ability to connect with them was evident in her early leadership roles as high school religious education teacher, Bishop's Committee leader, Girl Scout and Campfire leader, and host to Fresh Air program children during the summer. She also volunteered at Red Cross blood drives and fundraiser fashion shows for St. Francis Hospital and Archbishop Walsh High School. After her husband's death, Ruth continued volunteer work in pastoral care from 1986 to 2007 at St. Francis and Olean General hospitals. She was trustee and Eucharistic minister at St. Mary of the Angels Church, and received the St. Joseph the Worker award from the Diocese of Buffalo. In 2004 she was honored by the YMCA's Salute to Olean for volunteer activities. Nana especially loved her grandchildren, beginning with her attendance at each one's birth, and she always told them how special they were to her. She enjoyed the important moments in their lives, cheering them on at sporting events and other accomplishments. She enjoyed their stories and in turn told them stories of her own life, and she gave each child a sense of his or her unique place in the family. Visitors were always challenged to a game of Skipbo, but few could beat Nana. Surviving are daughters Christine (John) Cash Gilroy of DeWitt, Iowa; Caroline (George III) Schreiber of Allegany; Celeste (Michael) Lamb of Olean; Cecile (Alun) Honey of Humble, Texas; Cynthia Aiello of Allegany; Carla (James Serignese) Cash of Port Jefferson; Camille (Pat Dennis) Cash of New Port Richey, Fla.; and Caren Cash of Allegany. She is also survived by 30 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Alfred Eaton, of Allegany. In addition to her parents and her husband, Ruth was predeceased by brothers Joseph, Harlan, Clayton, and Daniel Eaton; sisters Marion Cullather and Jeanne Stopha; and sons-in-law James Nutter and James Aiello. Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig and Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 West State Road, Olean, from 4-7 p.m. Monday. Funeral services will be held Tuesday (June 21, 2011) beginning with a prayer service at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. at St. Mary of the Angels Church, Olean. Rev. Gregory Dobson, pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary of the Angels Church Renovation Fund, Olean, N.Y., or to a charity of the donor's choice.