Online Obituaries Ruth Jean Ann (Cole) Capernaros, 82, of Brockton, passed away at home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 after a period failing health. Ruth was born in Boston on May 3, 1932 to Thomas K. Cole and Elizabeth Clifford-Cole of Dorchester, MA. She met her future husband, Dr. George Capernaros, when they both worked at the Adams theater as young teenagers. They married in 1951 and remained best friends and partners until Georges passing in 2013. When George was recruited by the National Security Agency, the couple moved to Washington, DC where Ruth obtained a high level security position in the White House. She worked at the White House until the couples return to Massachusetts in 1956, settling in Brockton, MA in 1966. During this time, as George completed his graduate degrees, Ruth worked at Mass General Hospital, raised her four children and cared for her ailing mother while also becoming very involved in the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Churchs Philoptochos Society. Serving as President of the Philoptochos for several terms, Ruth also sat on the National Board of the Greek Orthodox Churchs clergylaity committee and was honored by both organizations on several occasions. In the early 1970s, Ruth began as volunteer coordinator of the not for profit Dorchester Bay Area Hospice. Through her innovative ideas, perseverance, and hard work she then became its Executive Director. At a time when Hospice was still unknown, Ruth was one of the pioneers of the movement. Her efforts helped pave the way for the eventual respect and support of the medical community and ultimately the universal acceptance of the Hospice philosophy. The Dorchester Bay Area Hospice was one of the first Nationally Accredited Hospices in this country and became the prototype for all subsequent Hospice organizations due largely to Ruths vision and diligence. From a three room office in Dorchester, under Ruths direction, the organization grew to become the multi-million dollar non-profit Hospice of Boston and Greater Brockton becoming its President and CEO while professionally and compassionately serving thousands of individuals and their families during what was arguably the most challenging time in their lives. Ruth served on the Board of the National Federation of Hospices as well as the Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts and the Visiting Nurse Association of America during this time and also became very active in the Brockton Rotary, who acknowledged her invaluable contributions by awarding her with an Honorary Paul Harris Fellow award. Ruth remained active with the Rotary after her retirement in 2011. While her accomplishments are impressive and the honors bestowed on her many, Ruth lived her life with unflinching dignity and grace and will be most remembered for her un-paralleled generosity, her kindness of heart and spirit, her self-effacing modesty, diligence and tenacity, her unfailing optimism and wonderful sense of humor. This most remarkable woman is survived by her children, Stanley G. Capernaros of Brockton, Cole T. Capernaros of Stoughton, Chrysanthie Capernaros of Chatham and Stacie Capernaros-Hevener of Marstons Mills; grandchildren Lianna and Christiana Hevener of Marstons Mills and George S.J. Capernaros of Brockton; her brother Thomas Cole of Florida, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral Information Funeral from the Russell & Pica Funeral Home, 165 Belmont St., (Rt123) Brockton on Saturday, January 24th at 9:00AM followed by a funeral service in the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 457 Oak St., Brockton at 10:00AM. Interment will follow in Melrose Cemetery, Brockton. Calling hours in the Russell & Pica Funeral Home Friday 4:00-8:00PM.