Margaret E. Ruff

Margaret E. “Maggie” Ruff, 76, formerly of New Cumberland, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 while living at Capitol Rehabilitation & Healthcare, Harrisburg. She was the daughter of the late Edward and Alice (Holmes) Raffensberger, born on September 13, 1946 in Harrisburg.

A 1964 graduate of East Pennsboro High School, Enola, she would dive right into the workforce, becoming an administrative assistant for several employers, including Hall’s Motor Transit, Mechanicsburg, before spending 30+ years with Tyco International, Harrisburg (formerly AMP). She would go on to work at several law firms, including Johnson Duffie P.C. in Lemoyne, and then Berg Electronics, Goldsboro (now Amphenol ICC), before retiring as office administrator from Bath Fitter, Lewisberry.

Maggie was a longtime member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Cumberland, and at one point or another was extremely active with Good Hope Ministries (food bank), The Caring Place, and Holy Spirit Ladies Auxiliary. She was a regular guest reader at the local elementary schools, and for more than twenty years, Maggie would hold various offices within the International Administrative Assistant Professionals (IAAP) organization. Believing in its mission, she enjoyed state-wide conferences and assumed various roles within Harrisburg Division committees. She was passionate about this organization and its members, and ever so grateful for the meaningful relationships and opportunities it fostered.
 
On an IAAP trip to Erie in 2001, she stumbled upon someone promoting the rehoming of retired greyhound racing dogs. Long story short – the greyhounds she met that day sold her immediately on their loving (and adorably lazy) disposition, and she would return home on a mission to support this cause. Maggie would parent five greyhounds and foster dozens more. With Personalized Greyhound in Camp Hill, she focused on coordinating hauls up and down the East Coast to get retired racers to healthy living situations.
 
When she wasn’t giving her time, she enjoyed it with those she loved most, regularly inserting friends and family into her busy schedule. She was independent and a great role model for her children, but she would tell you that her absolute pride and joy were her grandchildren. Sure, she may have parachuted out of a plane and gotten her first (of three) tattoos at age 60, but Maggie’s biggest wish and bucket-list item in life was watching her family grow, succeed and live full lives. 

Surviving Maggie are her children, Sherry Sundberg (husband, Michael) of New Berlin, and Edward Eichelberger of Mechanicsburg; three grandsons, Joshua Sundberg of New Berlin, Daniel Sundberg of Yoe, and Noah Sundberg of New Berlin; sisters-in-law, Gertrude Raffensberger, Joyce Raffensberger, and Cindy (Ruff) Cryer, as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Ray Ruff; brothers, Robert, Edward and Dennis Raffensberger; and sisters, Ruth Waizenegger and Mary Blecker.

A funeral service will be held at 11AM on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Cumberland. A public viewing will take place from 10AM until services begin in the church. Burial will immediately follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, New Cumberland. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Maggie’s name to the Highmark Caring Place – Harrisburg Region at www.highmarkcaringplace.com. When filling out the online donation form, be sure to designate your contribution as “an honor or memorial gift,” adding Maggie’s name.