QUEENSBURY – Ruth McCabe, age 91 of Queensbury, passed away on Friday, January 10, 2025 after a brief illness. She was born in Glens Falls, NY, the daughter of Paul and Edna Peck. Ruth completed her education as an LPN with additional training to fit braces and prosthesis. She practiced at Leete’s Pharmacy and Centerbrook Pharmacy in Connecticut. She later bought the medical supply department of Pharmacy Associates in Queensbury to create PA Medical Supply, where she was a proud owner operator for decades until she sold the business and retired at age 78.
Ruth was predeceased by her parents, her first husband and father of her children, Wallace Leete of Connecticut; stepdaughter, Marilee Kent; and the love of her life, husband Lee McCabe.
She is survived by her children, Pamela Leete Shyne (Kevin) of Nevada City, CA and Milan, NH, Susan Donovan of Hudson Falls, Bill Leete (Cindy) of Madison, CT, and Sharon Leete of Key West, FL; her stepdaughter, Joanna (McCabe) Maltby (Burt) of NH; her grandchildren, Sarah Quine, William Donovan, Jonathan Donavan, Nate Leete, Heather Leete Patch, and Brian Leete; and her great-grandchildren, Ryder, Jack, Aria, Ronan, Ian, and Sawyer.
Ruth lived a full long life growing up in CT where she married and raised her four children. She was a Cub Scout Leader and a 4-H leader, had a huge garden, and raised beef and pigs for the freezer. Her idea of “let’s get a pony for the kids turned into a barn full of horses, long summer nights in the hayfield, and weekends at 4-H horse shows. She could sew anything, from slipcovers to our wedding dresses. She knit many beautiful sweaters and kit matching Christmas stockings for all family members. In retirement, she knit hundreds of hats for the snuggery at Glens Falls Hospital.
Ruth opened her home to people from all over the world by hosting exchange students. She had long-term ties to the Adirondacks, spending lots of time at the camp her great grandfather built on Sherman Lake. Eventually she moved permanently to Queensbury with her loving husband, Lee. She loved the Adirondack Ballon Festival and that began her lifelong love of hot air balloons, going up in them anytime she had the chance. When she and Lee had time off, they updated the camp and spent lots of time there. She called it “Heaven on Earth”. In her later years, she found the greatest joy spending time with her great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main Street in Hudson Falls.
There will be a memorial service in Connecticut and interment in Warrensburg Cemetery in the spring at a time to be determined.