Ruth Elma Needham Lorente entered this world on May 1, 1928, in Lynn, MA, and entered the next on Oct. 19, 2011, in Mount Vernon, WA.
Growing up in Lynn, Ruth was raised as a classical musician, becoming accomplished as a soprano and a pianist. Later in life she also learned to play the organ, "because I always wanted to." She was a professional soloist for Lakeside Methodist Church in Lynn at the age of 14. She graduated from Lynn English High School at 16 so she could pursue her musical career.
As a professional she sang in the Old South Congregational Church in Boston, the Handel and Hayden Society with the Boston Symphony, Dane Singers (Boston), in many Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas with the North Shore Philharmonic, in a 1000-voice choir for the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations with Robert Shaw conducting, and in Kiss Me Kate with the San Francisco Opera Ring (she was also rehearsal accompanist).
In addition she performed in many, many volunteer choirs, choruses and productions in San Francisco, Napa, CA, and in the Skagit Valley. A highlight of her career was singing with a 100-voice choir in Russian in Carnegie Hall with the National Orchestra of Byalistok, Poland.
Through correspondence study she earned a Bachelor of Music from Music Teachers Association of California in 1986.
The pinnacle of her professional career was being accepted in 1950 to understudy major roles and with the San Carlo Opera Company. She was pondering this new chapter when she learned she was pregnant with the first of three children, and left her musical career to become a mother and housewife, two roles she said were more important to her than any other.
In 1948 Ruth married Malcolm Alejo Lorente in Lynn, and they made their home. Her son Stephen Charles was born there in 1951. In 1953 the family moved to San Francisco, and Gene Philip (1954) and David Malcolm (1956) joined the family. In 1961 the family moved to Napa, and while the children moved off to pursue their lives Ruth and Malcolm remained there until 1989, when they moved to Anacortes WA to be closer to their grandchildren. She lived to see her three children and two grandchildren graduate with Bachelor's degrees.
Ruth was always proud to be an American, and participated in local events that celebrated America. A favorite memory was of the 4th of July Celebration she had watching fireworks in New York City. She participated in the local Republican Women chapter. She loved Folk Music of all types, and gave demonstrations and presentations on American Folk music, her particular favorite folk style. She particularly loved the music of the Revolutionary Period.
Ruth and Malcolm loved to travel, and enjoyed the country with their Airstream trailer.
Her greatest love besides music was people, and children in particular. Knowing that they are the future, Ruth worked tirelessly for many years on behalf of UNICEF, raising money through "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" drives. She directed many children's choirs, taught private voice and piano lessons, and later in life, she would rather sit and watch the children at church than go to Adult Study. She finally retired as a voice teacher in March 2011.
Above all, Ruth loved Jesus and saw a loving God in many faiths and creeds. Raised in a Baptist church in MA, she and Malcolm attended a Congregational church in San Francisco, and Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Napa. While living in Napa, Ruth was hired as the Choir Director for St. Apollinaris Roman Catholic Church, where she led the musical portion of the Mass. In Anacortes they attended the Presbyterian and Lutheran Churches. She never wavered in her faith of what was to come, confidently assured that ending one life was beginning a new one.
Ruth was preceded into the next life by her parents Charles and Winifred Needham, her brother Edwin Needham, her husband Malcolm, and her son Stephen.
She is survived by her son Philip of Anacortes, son and daughter-in-law David and Mary Pat Lorente of Mount Vernon; grandson Andrew Lorente of Portland OR, granddaughter Emily Lorente of Bellingham; sister-in-law Arlene Lorente Dowdy of Richmond VA; nieces and nephews, Gail Needham of Northampton MA , Marilyn Ayer of Marlborough NH, Vida Schottenstein of Lexington KY, Kenneth Lorente of Glen Allen VA, Rodrick Lorente of Harvard MA, Malcolm Lorente, Constance Lorente; and their children.
A ceremony to celebrate her life will be held Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Anacortes Lutheran Church, 2100 O St, Anacortes WA. A private ceremony will be held later by the family to scatter her remains.
Memorials may be made to Young Life, Hospice of the Northwest or Anacortes Lutheran Church.
The family cannot express enough their thanks to the staff of The Bridge at Mount Vernon and Hospice of the Northwest. The love shown to Mom/Ruth/Grandma cannot be surpassed. We are touched by the care and love that was extended to her and us, and it will never be forgotten.
Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on October 21, 2011
Growing up in Lynn, Ruth was raised as a classical musician, becoming accomplished as a soprano and a pianist. Later in life she also learned to play the organ, "because I always wanted to." She was a professional soloist for Lakeside Methodist Church in Lynn at the age of 14. She graduated from Lynn English High School at 16 so she could pursue her musical career.
As a professional she sang in the Old South Congregational Church in Boston, the Handel and Hayden Society with the Boston Symphony, Dane Singers (Boston), in many Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas with the North Shore Philharmonic, in a 1000-voice choir for the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations with Robert Shaw conducting, and in Kiss Me Kate with the San Francisco Opera Ring (she was also rehearsal accompanist).
In addition she performed in many, many volunteer choirs, choruses and productions in San Francisco, Napa, CA, and in the Skagit Valley. A highlight of her career was singing with a 100-voice choir in Russian in Carnegie Hall with the National Orchestra of Byalistok, Poland.
Through correspondence study she earned a Bachelor of Music from Music Teachers Association of California in 1986.
The pinnacle of her professional career was being accepted in 1950 to understudy major roles and with the San Carlo Opera Company. She was pondering this new chapter when she learned she was pregnant with the first of three children, and left her musical career to become a mother and housewife, two roles she said were more important to her than any other.
In 1948 Ruth married Malcolm Alejo Lorente in Lynn, and they made their home. Her son Stephen Charles was born there in 1951. In 1953 the family moved to San Francisco, and Gene Philip (1954) and David Malcolm (1956) joined the family. In 1961 the family moved to Napa, and while the children moved off to pursue their lives Ruth and Malcolm remained there until 1989, when they moved to Anacortes WA to be closer to their grandchildren. She lived to see her three children and two grandchildren graduate with Bachelor's degrees.
Ruth was always proud to be an American, and participated in local events that celebrated America. A favorite memory was of the 4th of July Celebration she had watching fireworks in New York City. She participated in the local Republican Women chapter. She loved Folk Music of all types, and gave demonstrations and presentations on American Folk music, her particular favorite folk style. She particularly loved the music of the Revolutionary Period.
Ruth and Malcolm loved to travel, and enjoyed the country with their Airstream trailer.
Her greatest love besides music was people, and children in particular. Knowing that they are the future, Ruth worked tirelessly for many years on behalf of UNICEF, raising money through "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" drives. She directed many children's choirs, taught private voice and piano lessons, and later in life, she would rather sit and watch the children at church than go to Adult Study. She finally retired as a voice teacher in March 2011.
Above all, Ruth loved Jesus and saw a loving God in many faiths and creeds. Raised in a Baptist church in MA, she and Malcolm attended a Congregational church in San Francisco, and Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Napa. While living in Napa, Ruth was hired as the Choir Director for St. Apollinaris Roman Catholic Church, where she led the musical portion of the Mass. In Anacortes they attended the Presbyterian and Lutheran Churches. She never wavered in her faith of what was to come, confidently assured that ending one life was beginning a new one.
Ruth was preceded into the next life by her parents Charles and Winifred Needham, her brother Edwin Needham, her husband Malcolm, and her son Stephen.
She is survived by her son Philip of Anacortes, son and daughter-in-law David and Mary Pat Lorente of Mount Vernon; grandson Andrew Lorente of Portland OR, granddaughter Emily Lorente of Bellingham; sister-in-law Arlene Lorente Dowdy of Richmond VA; nieces and nephews, Gail Needham of Northampton MA , Marilyn Ayer of Marlborough NH, Vida Schottenstein of Lexington KY, Kenneth Lorente of Glen Allen VA, Rodrick Lorente of Harvard MA, Malcolm Lorente, Constance Lorente; and their children.
A ceremony to celebrate her life will be held Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Anacortes Lutheran Church, 2100 O St, Anacortes WA. A private ceremony will be held later by the family to scatter her remains.
Memorials may be made to Young Life, Hospice of the Northwest or Anacortes Lutheran Church.
The family cannot express enough their thanks to the staff of The Bridge at Mount Vernon and Hospice of the Northwest. The love shown to Mom/Ruth/Grandma cannot be surpassed. We are touched by the care and love that was extended to her and us, and it will never be forgotten.
Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on October 21, 2011
Ruth Elma Needham Lorente entered this world on May 1, 1928, in Lynn, MA, and entered the next on Oct. 19, 2011, in Mount Vernon, WA.
Growing up in Lynn, Ruth was raised as a classical musician, becoming accomplished as a soprano and a pianist. Later in life she also learned to play the organ, "because I always wanted to." She was a professional soloist for Lakeside Methodist Church in Lynn at the age of 14. She graduated from Lynn English High School at 16 so she could pursue her musical career.
As a professional she sang in the Old South Congregational Church in Boston, the Handel and Hayden Society with the Boston Symphony, Dane Singers (Boston), in many Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas with the North Shore Philharmonic, in a 1000-voice choir for the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations with Robert Shaw conducting, and in Kiss Me Kate with the San Francisco Opera Ring (she was also rehearsal accompanist).
In addition she performed in many, many volunteer choirs, choruses and productions in San Francisco, Napa, CA, and in the Skagit Valley. A highlight of her career was singing with a 100-voice choir in Russian in Carnegie Hall with the National Orchestra of Byalistok, Poland.
Through correspondence study she earned a Bachelor of Music from Music Teachers Association of California in 1986.
The pinnacle of her professional career was being accepted in 1950 to understudy major roles and with the San Carlo Opera Company. She was pondering this new chapter when she learned she was pregnant with the first of three children, and left her musical career to become a mother and housewife, two roles she said were more important to her than any other.
In 1948 Ruth married Malcolm Alejo Lorente in Lynn, and they made their home. Her son Stephen Charles was born there in 1951. In 1953 the family moved to San Francisco, and Gene Philip (1954) and David Malcolm (1956) joined the family. In 1961 the family moved to Napa, and while the children moved off to pursue their lives Ruth and Malcolm remained there until 1989, when they moved to Anacortes WA to be closer to their grandchildren. She lived to see her three children and two grandchildren graduate with Bachelor's degrees.
Ruth was always proud to be an American, and participated in local events that celebrated America. A favorite memory was of the 4th of July Celebration she had watching fireworks in New York City. She participated in the local Republican Women chapter. She loved Folk Music of all types, and gave demonstrations and presentations on American Folk music, her particular favorite folk style. She particularly loved the music of the Revolutionary Period.
Ruth and Malcolm loved to travel, and enjoyed the country with their Airstream trailer.
Her greatest love besides music was people, and children in particular. Knowing that they are the future, Ruth worked tirelessly for many years on behalf of UNICEF, raising money through "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" drives. She directed many children's choirs, taught private voice and piano lessons, and later in life, she would rather sit and watch the children at church than go to Adult Study. She finally retired as a voice teacher in March 2011.
Above all, Ruth loved Jesus and saw a loving God in many faiths and creeds. Raised in a Baptist church in MA, she and Malcolm attended a Congregational church in San Francisco, and Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Napa. While living in Napa, Ruth was hired as the Choir Director for St. Apollinaris Roman Catholic Church, where she led the musical portion of the Mass. In Anacortes they attended the Presbyterian and Lutheran Churches. She never wavered in her faith of what was to come, confidently assured that ending one life was beginning a new one.
Ruth was preceded into the next life by her parents Charles and Winifred Needham, her brother Edwin Needham, her husband Malcolm, and her son Stephen.
She is survived by her son Philip of Anacortes, son and daughter-in-law David and Mary Pat Lorente of Mount Vernon; grandson Andrew Lorente of Portland OR, granddaughter Emily Lorente of Bellingham; sister-in-law Arlene Lorente Dowdy of Richmond VA; nieces and nephews, Gail Needham of Northampton MA , Marilyn Ayer of Marlborough NH, Vida Schottenstein of Lexington KY, Kenneth Lorente of Glen Allen VA, Rodrick Lorente of Harvard MA, Malcolm Lorente, Constance Lorente; and their children.
A ceremony to celebrate her life will be held Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Anacortes Lutheran Church, 2100 O St, Anacortes WA. A private ceremony will be held later by the family to scatter her remains.
Memorials may be made to Young Life, Hospice of the Northwest or Anacortes Lutheran Church.
The family cannot express enough their thanks to the staff of The Bridge at Mount Vernon and Hospice of the Northwest. The love shown to Mom/Ruth/Grandma cannot be surpassed. We are touched by the care and love that was extended to her and us, and it will never be forgotten.
Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on October 21, 2011
Growing up in Lynn, Ruth was raised as a classical musician, becoming accomplished as a soprano and a pianist. Later in life she also learned to play the organ, "because I always wanted to." She was a professional soloist for Lakeside Methodist Church in Lynn at the age of 14. She graduated from Lynn English High School at 16 so she could pursue her musical career.
As a professional she sang in the Old South Congregational Church in Boston, the Handel and Hayden Society with the Boston Symphony, Dane Singers (Boston), in many Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas with the North Shore Philharmonic, in a 1000-voice choir for the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations with Robert Shaw conducting, and in Kiss Me Kate with the San Francisco Opera Ring (she was also rehearsal accompanist).
In addition she performed in many, many volunteer choirs, choruses and productions in San Francisco, Napa, CA, and in the Skagit Valley. A highlight of her career was singing with a 100-voice choir in Russian in Carnegie Hall with the National Orchestra of Byalistok, Poland.
Through correspondence study she earned a Bachelor of Music from Music Teachers Association of California in 1986.
The pinnacle of her professional career was being accepted in 1950 to understudy major roles and with the San Carlo Opera Company. She was pondering this new chapter when she learned she was pregnant with the first of three children, and left her musical career to become a mother and housewife, two roles she said were more important to her than any other.
In 1948 Ruth married Malcolm Alejo Lorente in Lynn, and they made their home. Her son Stephen Charles was born there in 1951. In 1953 the family moved to San Francisco, and Gene Philip (1954) and David Malcolm (1956) joined the family. In 1961 the family moved to Napa, and while the children moved off to pursue their lives Ruth and Malcolm remained there until 1989, when they moved to Anacortes WA to be closer to their grandchildren. She lived to see her three children and two grandchildren graduate with Bachelor's degrees.
Ruth was always proud to be an American, and participated in local events that celebrated America. A favorite memory was of the 4th of July Celebration she had watching fireworks in New York City. She participated in the local Republican Women chapter. She loved Folk Music of all types, and gave demonstrations and presentations on American Folk music, her particular favorite folk style. She particularly loved the music of the Revolutionary Period.
Ruth and Malcolm loved to travel, and enjoyed the country with their Airstream trailer.
Her greatest love besides music was people, and children in particular. Knowing that they are the future, Ruth worked tirelessly for many years on behalf of UNICEF, raising money through "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" drives. She directed many children's choirs, taught private voice and piano lessons, and later in life, she would rather sit and watch the children at church than go to Adult Study. She finally retired as a voice teacher in March 2011.
Above all, Ruth loved Jesus and saw a loving God in many faiths and creeds. Raised in a Baptist church in MA, she and Malcolm attended a Congregational church in San Francisco, and Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Napa. While living in Napa, Ruth was hired as the Choir Director for St. Apollinaris Roman Catholic Church, where she led the musical portion of the Mass. In Anacortes they attended the Presbyterian and Lutheran Churches. She never wavered in her faith of what was to come, confidently assured that ending one life was beginning a new one.
Ruth was preceded into the next life by her parents Charles and Winifred Needham, her brother Edwin Needham, her husband Malcolm, and her son Stephen.
She is survived by her son Philip of Anacortes, son and daughter-in-law David and Mary Pat Lorente of Mount Vernon; grandson Andrew Lorente of Portland OR, granddaughter Emily Lorente of Bellingham; sister-in-law Arlene Lorente Dowdy of Richmond VA; nieces and nephews, Gail Needham of Northampton MA , Marilyn Ayer of Marlborough NH, Vida Schottenstein of Lexington KY, Kenneth Lorente of Glen Allen VA, Rodrick Lorente of Harvard MA, Malcolm Lorente, Constance Lorente; and their children.
A ceremony to celebrate her life will be held Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Anacortes Lutheran Church, 2100 O St, Anacortes WA. A private ceremony will be held later by the family to scatter her remains.
Memorials may be made to Young Life, Hospice of the Northwest or Anacortes Lutheran Church.
The family cannot express enough their thanks to the staff of The Bridge at Mount Vernon and Hospice of the Northwest. The love shown to Mom/Ruth/Grandma cannot be surpassed. We are touched by the care and love that was extended to her and us, and it will never be forgotten.
Published in Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on October 21, 2011
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
