Ruth E. Rice

ORANGE - Ruth E. (Thayer) (Snow) Rice, 84 of 10 Glenwood Ave., Orange, died Monday, November 12, 2007 in the Heywood Hospital, Gardner. She was born in North Dana, MA, on July 10, 1923, the daughter of the late LeRoy and the late Viola (Moore) Thayer. She graduated from Brookfield High School and the Burrely-Rose Beauty Academy. Mrs. Rice along with her late husband Olin Rice owned the Silver Dawn Flower Shoppe in Orange for 25 years. She owned the Charm Beauty Shop on Kennebunk St. in Athol. She worked for the Fiske Funeral Home as a beautician for many years. She was the "First Lady of Quabbin" and gave the history before and after of the Quabbin Reservoir. She was a member of the Athol Chapter DAV, American Legion Auxiliary Post 172, Athol Hospital Auxiliary, Swift River Historical Society, Friends of the Quabbin, Brookside Mobil Home Park Association and a former member of the Athol Congregational Church. She leaves one daughter: Cindy Snow of Orange; one brother: Donald Thayer & wife Ruth of Northfield; a stepdaughter, Carol Blake of Athol; one granddaughter: Jennifer Specter and husband Matthew and two great grand children Zachary and Alexis Specter all of Webster; 8 step-grandchildren and 11 step great grandchildren. Mrs. Rice was predeceased by her first husband Donald Snow who died in 1961, her second husband Olin "Bill" Rice who died in 1997, her daughter Patricia Hayden who died in 2005, her sister Gertrude Ploof and by one step-granddaughter. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 16th at 10:00 a.m. in the Fiske Funeral Home, 1356 Main Street, Athol. Burial will follow in Silver Lake Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Thursday, November 15th, from 6 to 8PM in the funeral home. For more information or to sign our online guest book please visit www.fiskefuneralhome.com. Fiske Funeral Home 1356 Main Street, Athol is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });