Ruth Byczkowski died on Sunday March 29, 2020, in Reading, Massachusetts, after a long illness.  Feisty and funny Ruth was a dedicated mother, grandmother, friend and nurse.  She is survived by her daughter Margaret (Peg) Raciti of Reading MA, son Daniel Byczkowski of Montclair NJ, son-in-law Eric Raciti, grandsons Nick Raciti and John Byczkowski and cousin Robert Anderson of Princeton, sisters-in-law Olga Anderson and Elsie Anderson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her ex-husband Nicolas Byczkowski in 2017 and by her brothers Donald, Russell and Richard Anderson.   Born in New Brunswick, NJ in 1939, she attended Jamesburg High School (class of 1959) after moving to South Brunswick.  There she met her friend Joyce Davies.  Joycie, forever kind in spirit, shared with Ruth her parents after the passing of Ruth's mother, Margaret (Lindley) Anderson, in 1956.  Ruth affectionately called Mr. and Mrs. Davies "Mommio" and "Daddio."  After graduation she began the Beth Israel Nursing Program in Newark, NJ which earned her not only the career that she loved, but found lifelong friends Carol Coker of Fairlawn, NJ and Claire Borkowsky of Mooresville, NC, whom she always called her sisters.  Ruth and Nick were married in 1964 after a 7-year romance filled with their shared love of dancing.  If they had Facebook pages, each would declare their 60-year relationship as "it's complicated".  Ruth was "adopted" by the extended Byczkowski family as well as the entire Belarussian community in South River.  She is survived by brothers- and sisters-in-law Walter and best-buddy Barbara Byczkowski, Ann Laudermilch, and Alex and Marie Byczkowski.  Her beloved mother-in-law Alexandra and father-in-law Nikifor predeceased her.  During her career as a nurse she worked in varied jobs that engaged her intellectual capacity and gave her flexibility to raise a family.  She was indeed an early role model for the modern working mother.  She worked at Middlesex Hospital (now RWJ) and she then went on to a private OB/GYN practice in the1970's.  From there she changed course slightly and worked for insurance companies until she found the NJ State Commission for the Blind, where she stayed for 26 years until her retirement in 2006.  She loved being a diabetes educator visiting nurse.  She traveled throughout the state, but mainly worked with patients in Newark and Elizabeth.  She found it most rewarding to help bring meaningful changes to people's well-being.  She became a staunch advocate for public heath and served on the South River Board of Public Health after retirement.  Ruth was very active in retirement with the South River Seniors.  There she met so many true and wonderful friends.  They laughed and joked and had a wonderful time enjoying their "second teenage-hood".  During their later years Ruth and Nick remained two peas in a pod, traveling, enjoying their grandsons and holidays together.  She will be buried next to him at Washington Cemetery in South River at both of their requests. A celebration of Ruth's life, as yet unscheduled, will take place in the coming months.