Ruth Elizabeth Millan (Simes)

Ruth Elizabeth (Simes) Millan, 89, of Covenant Village of Cromwell achieved her deep longing to be with Christ on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 as she was enfolded by the warm blanket of her loving family. Born in 1924 to Virginia and Wesley Simes of Springfield, MA during depression days, however, she never felt deprived as her parents gave her a wonderful childhood with lots of love, good, fair discipline, and a profound faith in God. She graduated as a Registered Nurse from Springfield Hospital with top honors and later became a Head Nurse at Hartford Hospital. Patients were her love. Ruth knew that back rubs were a significant way to learn to care about patients. She was especially gifted in working with patients who were terminal. Ruth is survived by her beloved husband, Rev. Henry Millan of Cromwell; her wonderful children, Peter Shaw and his wife, Andrea, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Elyssa Davis and her husband, Kirk, of East Haddam, Cathy DeAngelo and her husband, Anthony, of Rocky Point, NY, Beverly Collins and her husband, Stephen, of East Hampstead, NH, and Cheryl Russell and her husband, David, of Groton; nine grandchildren, Allison, Taylor, Barrett, Tyler, Brandon, Shannon, Kasey, Austin, and Erica; three great-grandchildren, Anna, Brianna, Benjamin, and one on his way. She is also survived by her sister, Shirley Kervick of East Greenwich, RI; several nieces, nephews, and many dear friends. Ruth was an avid member of South Congregational Church, East Hartford where she sang in the choir and was Moderator of the congregation. She enjoyed cooking, hosting dinner parties, sewing, knitting, and writing plays. Music and painting, especially for family members, brought her great joy. Faith was an active verb in her life. As she faced death she did so with equanimity and great trust in a loving God. She saw death as a new adventure. The only problem was leaving so many people and things that she loved so dearly. Looking back on her life she felt she lived most of it on the mountain top, just enough valleys to realize that the strength of faith is what pulled her out of them back to the mountain top. Ruth wrote about her death, “She was born, she lived, she loved, she tried, and she died.” Her hospice experience at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown was outstanding. Angels, both men and women, served with compassion and wisdom.

A service celebrating the life of Ruth will be celebrated on Saturday (September 7th) at 10 am at her beloved church, South Congregational Church of East Hartford with Rev. Al Turner officiating. Private burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Ruth’s family will receive relatives and friends at the D’Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford on Friday (September 6th) from 4-7 pm. Rather than flowers, Ruth’s heart’s desire was that donations please be made to The Paget Foundation, P.O. Box 24432, Brooklyn, NY, 11202, or to South Congregational Church, 1301 Forbes Street, East Hartford, CT 06118, or to the Benevolent Fund of Covenant Village of Cromwell, 52 Missionary Road, Cromwell, CT 06416. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.