SILK, Ruth L. Ruth L. (Mahoney) Silk, 86, of South Windsor, formerly of Wethersfield, beloved widow of Howard J. Silk, passed away on Wednesday, December 29, 2010. She was born on May 14, 1924 in Lowell, MA, daughter of the late John and Mary (O'Brien) Mahoney. Ruth graduated from Lowell High School, where she met her wonderful husband Howard. She was a member of St. Rita's Cadets Marching Band. Ruth and Howard raised their five children in Hartford, Wethersfield and Brunswick, ME. Prior to her retirement, Ruth worked in sales at The Hanson-Whitney Co. in Hartford for 15 years. For over 50 years, Ruth was an active member of St. James Episcopal Church, Hartford, where she served on the vestry and as a member, President and Treasurer of the Episcopal Church Women and Senior Club. She is survived by her children, Phyllis D'Andrea of South Windsor, Garry J. Silk and his wife Kaydie of Westerly, RI, Shirley Nanci and her husband Dominic of South Windsor, Donald H. Silk and his wife Cathy of Basking Ridge, NJ and Howard J. Silk, Jr. of Wethersfield. She adored her seven grandchildren, Ellen Perry, Laura Dufresne and her husband Gary, Erika Silk, Erin Plowman and her husband Michael, Emily Silk, Anne Silk and Matthew Nanci. She cherished her six great-grandchildren, Joseph Peterson, Tazwell and Harleigh Perry, Messina and Monet Dufresne and Norah Plowman, a brother, Kenneth Mahoney and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters, Mary Coulter and Dorothy Lacy. Ruth was always admired for her kindness and independent spirit but will be most remembered as a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. The funeral will be on Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 11 a.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 155 Wyllys St., Hartford with the Reverends Leigh Preston and Dana Campbell co-celebrants. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Friends may call Monday, January 3, 2011, 5-8 p.m. at the Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Tpke., Wethersfield. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. James Episcopal Church, 45 Church St., Hartford, CT 06103 or The American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Ctr., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. To share a memory with the family, please visit, www.dillonbaxter.com.