Ruth Duke Shan

Ruth Duke Shan, 95, of East Marion, N.Y., passed away at San Simeon by the Sound in Greenport, N.Y., on July 22, 2011.

Ruth was born on October 9, 1915, in Suffolk, Va. She graduated from Elon College in Elon, N.C. While working for Burlington Industries she was transferred in 1937 to New York City, where she met and married Stephan A. Shan in 1940 and raised her family in Mineola. She became a summer resident of East Marion in 1955. In 1995. she moved to her home in Gardiners Bay Estates full time.

She enjoyed playing canasta and bridge with her friends and loved crossword puzzles, especially The New York Times. Her favorite pastime was spending as much time as she could with her family and grandchildren.

Ruth was a wonderful mother to Emily Gundersen of Southold and Steve Shan of Ronkonkoma. She was a loving, caring grandmother to Jennifer (Todd) Schelin of Uxbridge, Mass., Sarah (Mike) Mazzaferro and Peter Gundersen of Greenport, N.Y., and to her great-grandchildren, Jessie and Eric Schelin and Maia, Jacob and Ella Mazzaferro.

She was predeceased by her husband in 1962 and her favorite son-in-law, Jim Gundersen, in 2009.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 29, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Southold. Burial to follow, the Dr. Rev. Peter Kelley officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth’s memory to San Simeon by the Sound Nursing Facility, P.O. Box 2122, Greenport, NY 11944.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes.

This is a paid notice.