Ruth B Shenise

Ruth B. Shenise (nee Burkhardt), age 92, beloved mother and grandmother peacefully passed away Wednesday, December 11th, in Pompton Plains NJ, surrounded by her loved ones. Born on April 13, 1932, in Paterson, NJ, Ruth enjoyed a well lived life.

Ruth grew up in Paterson, NJ and graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1950. In 1951 she got married to George Henry Shenise of Bloomingdale, NJ at St. Anthony’s of Padua in Butler, NJ and began to build their first home in Butler. 

As time went on, they welcomed their first daughter Irene Rosemary and a short four years later their second daughter Sandra Gabriel was welcomed to the family. While raising her daughters she decided to go to college, 17 years after high school and worked nights to achieve her goal of becoming an educator. She financed her education by altering an impressive 10,000 pairs of men’s pants at Louis Levines & Son’s Men’s & Boys Store on Main Street in Butler.
 
She graduated from Paterson State Teacher College in 1968. She started her career at the Bloomingdale school system at Samuel R. Donald Elementary School and moved on to Walter T. Bergen Middle School, where she was among the first teachers there and was honored to be invited back for the school’s 50th anniversary. While teaching she continued her higher education through night school and achieved two master’s degrees and 30 credits beyond. This being one of her proudest accomplishments beyond her family. 

Outside of her dedication to teaching, Ruth had a vibrant personality marked by determination and a genuine love for her family. She had a very driven, hardworking personality that she instilled into her family. She had numerous interests including taking long drives into the country, an avid reader and enjoyed word puzzles, crime shows and visiting diners all over New Jersey. She enjoyed gardening, garage sailing and traveling well into her 80’s to her homes in South Carolina and Florida. Ruth along with her family took multiple RV trips across the country visiting 48 of the 50 states, their National Parks, Canada, and Mexico too. The enjoyment of travel continued for Ruth as she made her way to Europe, getting the opportunity to visit many countries. 

In her personal life, Ruth shared many treasured moments with her daughters, Irene and her husband Russell, and Sandy and her husband Steven, both of Wayne, NJ. Her legacy continues with her grandchildren, Chelsea Elizabeth (Lounsbery) Niescieruk and her husband Matthew of Butler, NJ, Adam Robert Lounsbery, Skylar Rose Schubert, and Cole Jason Schubert also of Wayne, NJ.

Additionally, her warmth and kindness extended to many nieces and nephews, who will fondly remember her influence in their lives. She is predeceased by her parents, Robert Russel Burkhardt, and Elsie May (Kennedy); her devoted husband, George Henry Shenise; her sister, Dorothy Markovitz of Long Branch, NJ; and her brothers, Robert Burkhardt of Kannapolis, NC and Russell Burkhardt of Woodbridge, NJ.

Ruth’s life will be celebrated with a visitation on December 17, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 PM, both taking place at The Morrison Etheridge Funeral Home, Inc. in Butler, NJ. Afterward, she will be laid to rest in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Butler, NJ. Ruth B. Shenise's legacy lives on in the hearts of her family and friends, who will carry forward her spirit of dedication, love, and determination.