Ruth P. (O'Neill) McGlynn

Ruth Palmer (O’Neill) McGlynn, a lifelong resident of South Weymouth, wife of the late Terrence McGlynn, died May 25th at her residence at Weymouth Healthcare Center. She was 87 years old.
She is survived by her children Kathryn McGlynn of Weymouth, Sharon Bergen and her husband John of New Hope, PA, Maureen Shortt and her husband Thom of New Hope, PA, Brian McGlynn and his wife Beth of Sandwich, MA, John McGlynn and his wife Chika of Tokyo, Japan, Maryann Gurney and her husband Malcolm Jr. of Weymouth, MA, Stephen McGlynn and his wife Debbie of Abington, MA, her 10 grandchildren, Malcolm III , Jason, Jessica, Michael, Andrew, Emily, Sean, Emma, Kevin and Maribeth and her great granddaughter Olivia. She is predeceased by her granddaughter, Meghan (Shortt) Wilent.
She was a direct descendant, through her father, of Walter Palmer who emigrated from England in 1629 and settled in the Boston area. Later, he was one of the founding fathers of Stonington, Connecticut.
Born in South Weymouth, Mrs. McGlynn was educated in Weymouth schools. A homemaker for her husband and seven children for many years, she was also employed as a lunch program coordinator in the Weymouth elementary schools. In 1980, Mrs. McGlynn, then 53, set out to fulfill her lifelong dream of obtaining a college degree in English. She continued to work while attending Massasoit Community College part time and received her Associates Degree with honors. Enrolled at Bridgewater State College as a full time student, she graduated in 1986 magna cum laude with a B.A. in English. The English Department Faculty honored her with an award for excellence in English. From 1986 to 1988, she studied for her Master's Degree at Bridgewater where she received the first graduate assistantship ever given to an English major at the college. In the summer of 1988 she completed her degree at Oxford University's Trinity College in England.
Much as she enjoyed reading and writing, Mrs. McGlynn's greatest pleasure in life was the company of her extended family, especially her grandchildren. Gardening and cooking were among her other enthusiasms and, in her travels outside the country, she visited Japan, Hawaii, Ireland and England.
The funeral will be held from the C.C. Shepherd Funeral Home, 134 Pleasant St. (Columbian Sq.) South Weymouth on Saturday May 30th at 8:30 PM followed by the Funeral Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church, 261 Pleasant St. South Weymouth, at 9:30 A.M. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 4:30 to 7:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth's memory to Meghan's Foundation at P.O. Box 407, Solebury, PA 18963 or at www.meghansfoundation.org. If you would like to leave a message for the family, please click on the candle.