H. Ruth Bunde

Vergennes: God added a star to his celestial home and extinguished a bright light in our lives

with the passing of Helen Ruth Daley Bunde on January 29, 2021 at the age of 98.

Ruth began her life as the eldest of the four children of Esther and Theodore Daley on

May 15,1922 in Yonkers, NY. She graduated from Roosevelt High School and

continued her education at business school for secretarial sciences. While working

at the W.T. Grant Co. in NYC, Ruth met her husband, Arthur Philip Bunde. They wed

in June of 1948 and began their lives together, sharing it with their son from Artie's first

marriage, Robert. After losing her first son, they had two more children, daughter Helen

Lorraine and son, Neal Philip. Ruth worked part time at the Nash Fence Co. as a bookkeeper

until her children were in school and then took a Civil Service secretarial position

with the Yonkers Board of Ed. She was active in the P.S.#14 PTA, serving as its

President and in her church, Crescent Place Reformed Church serving as the

Sunday School Superintendent and on the Church Board. Her career took her

back to her alma mater and she worked at Roosevelt as Secretary to the

Principal for many years. In 1987 Ruth retired and she and Artie bought their

cute log cabin in Hardwick, VT to be closer to her brother and his family. Ruth

embraced her new community and they her and she continued her busy life

working as Church Secretary at the United Church of Hardwick. She was a

member of a church circle and the Hardwick Senior Center. One of her passion

projects was the renovation of a building for the Hardwick HIstorical Society where

she served as Treasurer. In 2010 Ruth made the decision to leave her home in

Hardwick and moved to Vergennes, VT to a duplex she shared with her son, Neal,

so she was closer to her children. She remained in this home, living independently,

until her dealth. Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Arthur, in 1996, her three

siblings, Dorothy "Dot" Guth, Theodore "Ted" Daley and Robert "Bob" Daley, her sisterin-

aw Barbara Daley and her daughter-in-law Janet Bunde. She is survived by her sister-in-law

Gloria Daley, her children, Robert Bunde, Helen Greg (William Thiel) and Neal Bunde; her five

grandchildren Debra Bunde Ream (Matthew), Todd Bunde (Mary Catherine), Adam Bunde

(Jamie), Jesse Bunde and Bassim Bunde; two "adopted" grandchildren Jessica Thiel (Jesse

Hildebrand) and William "Bear" Thiel (Adrienne) and great-grandchildren Freddie, Abbie and

Henry Reams; Ford, Keragyn, Emma Kate and Adam Joseph Bunde; Peyton Culhane; Link

Hildebrand; and Adrienne Aster Thiel. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and

their families who she remained close with and loved dearly. In honoring Ruth's wishes, there

will be no viewing or funeral. A family interment and celebration of her birthday and her life is

planned for May. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vergennes Volunteer

Ambulance and Rescue Squad, 106 Panton Road, Vergennes, VT 05491, (802) 877-3683

whose kindness and assistance were very much appreciated by Ruth and her family over the

years. She is sadly missed and in our hearts forever.

Arrangements are in the care of Dian R. Holcomb of Northern Vermont Funeral Service, 60 Elm Street, Hardwick.