BANGOR – Ruth Ellen (Philbrook) Coffey, 97 died April 29, 2024, after a brief illness. During her final days Ruth was surrounded by her loving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren sharing stories, singing, and playing her favorite songs, bringing both tears and laughter and many family hugs.

Ruth was very active over the course of her life volunteering, attending church, socializing with her friends, and tending to grandchildren after raising her own never forgetting a birthday – and she had a lot to keep track of. She enjoyed keeping up with the successes of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and had a keen ability to recall their interests and pursuits her entire life.

Ruth was born Aug. 14, 1926 to Estelle Ross (Susee) Philbrook and Charles Andrew Philbrook of Vanceboro. Ruth graduated from Vanceboro High School with honors at the age of 16 in 1943 and began her first job at the New England Telephone Company in Houlton, then was transferred to Presque Isle. Ruth was accepted to the Maine General Hospital School of Nursing in Portland, but those plans were interrupted by marriage plans and World War II.

She met her future husband, Arnold Coffey, at a Methodist Church function in Presque Isle, and they were later married on Oct. 18, 1944. Their honeymoon was cut short after Arnold was called to report for military duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. While Arnold served in the Marine Corps, Ruth worked at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and later at the Caster Division of Domestic Industries in Boston, Mass.

After Arnold’s discharge from the Marines, they settled in Presque Isle, bought a 100-acre potato farm, and made a home. They were blessed with seven children, David, Daniel, Dianne, James, Peter, Ruth Ellen, and Juliet. As the children grew, so did the farm operations. When the youngest child left home for college Ruth began her health services career as a unit secretary at the A. R. Gould Memorial Hospital in Presque Isle.

Ruth and Arnold decided to sell the farms in 1981 and relocated to Bangor to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Ruth continued her hospital work as a unit secretary at Eastern Maine Medical Center until her retirement at the age of 71.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Arnold, in 2010 after 66 years of marriage; her two brothers, Ronald and Paul Susee; a childhood and life-long friend, Barbara Beers Kinney; and a beloved son-in-law, Larry St. Peter.

Ruth is survived by her seven children, David, of Foxboro, Mass., Dan and his wife Nancy of Holden, Dianne of South Burlington, Vt., James and wife Jo-Ann of San Antonio, Texas, Peter and his wife Debbie of Veazie, Ruth Ellen of Augusta, and Juliet and husband Leo Freeman of Presque Isle. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Timothy Coffey of Foxboro, Mass., Kristin and husband John Canders of Brewer, Daniel and wife Stephanie of Hampden, Scott Brown and partner Corrine Barthelemy of Boston, Mass., Todd Brown of South Burlington, Vt., Jeremy Coffey and wife Shannon Hanrahan of Syracuse, N.Y., Aaron Coffey of San Antonio, Texas, Jared Coffey and wife Shelby of San Antonio, Texas, Abigail Coffey of Brooklyn, N.Y., Evan Coffey and partner Brittney of Bangor, Jon Michael St. Peter of Searsmont, Marc Coffey and wife Liv Detrick of Searsmont, and Eric Freeman of Portland; and great-grandchildren, Lily Canders, Caleb Canders, Chase Coffey, Asher Coffey, Amelia Brown, Frida Coffey, Maro Coffey, Calder Coffey, Rylan Coffey, Avery Coffey, Tristan Coffey, Cash Coffey, and Ephraim Coffey.

The family would like to thank the devoted caregivers and medical professionals at St. Joseph Hospital and Ross Manor Waterman unit who attended to Ruth during the final weeks of her life. A graveside service will be held later at Maine Veteran’s Cemetery in Augusta followed by a celebration of life at the upcoming annual family reunion this summer.

At the age of 96, Ruth published her 162-page memoir based on notes and stories she compiled over her lifetime. Ruth lived a long and eventful life; she experienced love and loss, war, depression, bountiful family, travel, and never missed a holiday party. At Christmas, every year, Grammie Ruth would share a story from these memoirs with family and friends before leading the room in the song “Silent Night.” At the end of her life, it was the last song she sang, surrounded by her family who sang along with her quietly, but her voice was the strongest in the room. As she sang in her favorite song earlier this week, “Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.”

Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.

Those who wish to remember Ruth in a special way may make donations in her memory to the

Salvation Army

65 South Park St.,

P.O. Box 1101,

Bangor, ME 04401

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