Ruth A. Ziemer

MEDINA – Ruth A. Ziemer, 92, of Baldwinsville and formerly of Medina passed away peacefully July 21, 2020 with her loving husband of 45 years, Rolf D. Ziemer, at her side.

Ruth and Rolf traveled the world together and I am forever grateful to him for the love and care he gave my Mom throughout their time together. He gave her the life she dreamed of.

Ruth was born August 20, 1927 in New Castle, PA to Floyd and Katherine Childs. She worked at Syracuse University as a computer coordinator for the Department of Sponsored Programs.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Rolf, daughter Brenda (Marc) Hooper of Kelseyville, CA, and brother, David (Jeanette) Childs of Kechi, KS.

She was predeceased by her parents and her sisters, Linda (Everett) Davis, Doris (Charles) Foss and her brother, Robert (Joyce) Childs.

My Mother and I had 70 years together. She taught me how to have faith, how to laugh and smile, how to work through sadness. She showed me what prejudice looks like, the importance of always telling the truth. My mother taught me how to love.

I have so many wonderful memories of her, but my favorite goes back to when I was in third grade. My elementary school always had a Halloween party, but that year I didn’t want to go, until, of course, the very last minute. My mother lovingly came to the rescue and suggested possible costumes. No, I didn’t want to be Casper the Ghost and no I didn’t want to be a witch.

After much back and forth, my mother looked in the closet and pulled out a box. She put me into that box with only my head and legs outside of it. Then she gift-wrapped the box and put on a tag, “To: Mr. Towne” who was the school principal. She loaded me into the backseat of the car (lying down) and off we went to the school. After pulling me out of the car, we went in.  When the third graders paraded across the stage, I found to my joy and dismay that I won.  Needless to say, it was somewhat difficult to choose my prize from the huge bag of possibilities when my hands were stuck inside the box. That was my Mom, always there for me.

But, I wasn’t there for my Mother when she died of Covid-19. I couldn’t be as she was in a hospital in Syracuse. I had to say goodbye to her via FaceTime. I had to attend her funeral via FaceTime. No last kiss, no hug, no holding her hand. Just the lingering picture in my mind as the nurses removed her oxygen tube because there was nothing else to be done.

I couldn’t be there for my stepfather, either. I have the photo above of my mother, and a handblown glass heart with some of her ashes on the table next to my favorite reading chair. Sometimes I can barely look at it, my heart is so broken.