Ruthann Flavin, devoted to family
Ruthann Flavin, a loving mother of three daughters, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, surrounded by family. She was 81 years young. She was born in Philadelphia, Pa., to George and Ruth Snyder.
Ruthann graduated from West Catholic Girls High School in 1958. Her first job was with GE on their engine project for the Apollo missions. She was disappointed when NASA went with the F-1 engines from Rocketdyne instead, though proud that GE was responsible for the computers and software that NASA used to monitor the Saturn V rockets on the launchpad until takeoff.
After raising her three daughters, she returned to the workforce taking a variety of jobs, her favorite as a self-employed balloon delivery person, usually dressed as a clown. These performances fed her love of celebrating people and sharing her joy in life. Family was her most important concern, and she never missed sending a card for birthdays, Christmas, and even Valentine’s Day. Her volunteer work included Joining Generations, a reading program matching at-risk children with an older generation.
An avid movie buff, she could often be found dancing around the kitchen singing show tunes from the golden age of Hollywood musicals. She passed this love of movies down to her children and grandchildren. A lifelong enthusiast of the Mummers’ Parade, she would break into a Mummers strut whenever she heard a string band. An active athlete when she was younger, she excelled in tennis and won several awards with her bowling team. She enjoyed sewing clothes for herself and her children. Her daughters had the best-dressed Barbies in the neighborhood. Clever costumes and crafty home décor were her forte. Always on the go, her steadily decreasing health barely slowed her down. She fought the good fight to the end and went out dancing.
She is survived by her siblings, Jane Ruth and George Snyder; her daughters, Helene Santiago, June Flavin and Heather Clark; her sons-in-law, Tony Santiago and Mike Clark; her beloved grandchildren, Anthony and Abby Santiago, Sean Santiago, Hannah and Ryan Snyder, Ben and Andrea Santiago, Kyle Clark, Daniel Clark, Noelle Santiago, Samantha Clark, and Savannah Clark; and her great-grandchildren, Evangeline Santiago and Aaron Santiago; and a multitude of many loved nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
A viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 9, at St. George’s UMC, 34337 Omar Road, Frankford, with services to follow.
