Obituary of Ruth H. Lovell
With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Ruth H. Lovell, a loving mother, grandmother, partner, and talented artist above all. She passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on December 14, 2024, in Freehold, NJ, with her loving family and dear partner by her side. Ruth lived a life that celebrated beauty, creativity, culture, music, and the transformative power of art. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy will endure in the works she left behind and within the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
After graduating from Parsons School of Design in 1953, Ruth found success as a commercial textile designer in NYC and, while working, raised a family as a single mother. In addition to her artistic achievements, Ruth always wanted to make others laugh and had a tremendous sense of humor. She imparted this love of humor to her family…as we all know, she was voted class "wit "in her senior year of Tenafly High School. Until the end, her intellect and knowledge were apparent, and she enjoyed Jeopardy and engaging in intellectual conversations.
Ruth was a fiercely independent woman, a trailblazer ahead of her time. She held unapologetic opinions and never shied away from voicing them. Her fearless example was passed down to her daughters, inspiring them to make their own choices and live life to the fullest.
Ruth was a prolific artist born on April 29, 1931, in Englewood, NJ. She was primarily German and the middle child of three girls. With the support of her mother, Lina, she was encouraged to pursue art. But it was always challenging. Women of her generation were not expected to have careers, especially creative ones. But she persevered and made her own path. Her works span decades, and her talent has touched the lives of many. It gave her great joy to share her art with everyone she loved.
Throughout her life, Ruth found inspiration in the beauty of nature, especially in flowers. Her love for gardening and her desire to be surrounded by color and beauty were reflected in her art, creating a deep connection between her and her audience.
Her impressionistic technique was emulated by many artists in her field. Even as she lost her eyesight, she still painted the flowers she could see in her mind the best way she knew how.
She enjoyed traveling with other artists and always came home full of inspiration and beautiful paintings. Among other places, she had the opportunity to travel to Mexico, France, NewYork, and Maine.
Ruth is survived by her daughter, Karen, and son-in-law, Bob Hewitt, as well as her daughter, Joanna Lovell; her grandchildren, Christopher, Tyler, Benjamin, and Ronan and her most beloved partner, Harvey. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC in Ruth's name. To support The Met, please visit https://engage.metmuseum.org/support/donate/?promocode=56351 . On our donation form, there is an area where donors may designate if they would like to make the gift in honor or memory of someone. Here prospective donors should note they would like to make the donation in memory of Ruth Lovell.
A celebration of her life will be scheduled sometime shortly. Her family will let everyone know. But until then, they would love it if you would share a memory, story, or picture of Ruth by clicking the link below.
To leave a condolence, visit www.freemanfuneralhomes.com.
