Ruth Nelson

Ruth E. (DiPilato) Nelson, 83 of Firestone, Colorado, formerly of Worcester, passed away at her home on Saturday, June 22, 2024.

Ruth was born in Worcester, a daughter of the late Joseph and Vincenza (Police) DiPilato. Raised on Vernon Hill, she graduated from Commerce High School and the New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing. At the start of her career, Ruth worked as a registered nurse for the Visiting Nurse Association. She later spent over 45 years at St. Vincent’s Hospital before she retired.

Ruth’s second favorite pastime, after spending time with her grandchildren, was travel. She began late in her career with a mission trip to Italy, but really ramped up after her retirement. She ultimately visited 79 countries on 6 continents. Her plan was originally to travel to 80 by her 80th birthday. Covid delayed that, but she was still actively plotting how to reach that last one. Among her favorites were Kenya, The Soviet Union, Costa Rica and a trip to Scotland and London with her family. Among her least favorites were India and China…Ruth didn’t care for “spicy” food.

Midway through her adventures, on an African safari, she met Howard Schroeder of Rockford, IL. Although she never remarried after the loss of her beloved husband Billy in 1981, she and Howard continued to travel together, both abroad and within the US. Enjoying impromptu drives to the Southwest or Florida (Ruth loved the beach), they were the couple you’d see on the highway with the closet rod of clothes hanging across the back seat. In addition to the joy of the road trip, Howard introduced her to a new, and for anyone who knew Ruth, unexpected hobby - NASCAR. Even though they lived 1000 miles apart, they would often watch races together over the phone and argue about whether her favorite driver Jimmy Johnson would be winning that week.

She was a longtime member of Grace Baptist Church and The Journey in Worcester, and later attended Life Fellowship in Colorado. She enjoyed participating in weekly Bible study with both groups. Before moving to Colorado, she was also active at the Worcester Senior Center, and loved playing pool with her friends there. She and her sister Marie also volunteered at the John Street Baptist Church soup kitchen, cooking together for over two decades.

Ruth’s husband, William Nels Nelson passed away in 1981. She is survived by the family she loved: her son, Mark Nels Nelson and his wife Lisa of Erie, Colorado; two grandchildren, Hannah Siobhan Nelson of California and Graham William Nels Nelson of Colorado; a sister, Marie Beckstrom of Oxford, MA; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. She is predeceased by a sister Joanna Roskidany.

Calling hours for Ruth will be held on Friday July 19, 2024 from 10-11 am with her funeral service to follow at 11:00 am in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery, Worcester.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Bowery Mission, 90 Lafayette Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10013 or Polar Bears International, P.O. 3008, Bozeman, MT 59772.