Toms River, N.J. — Ruthanne Descamps (nee Mason), age 85, of Manchester Township, N.J., was called home to be with her Savior early in the morning of Monday, April 27, 2026, while in rehabilitative care at Green Acres in Toms River, New Jersey, after a series of health complications.

Although Ruthanne found great joy in life, she looked forward with greater joy to being “absent from the body and present with the Lord,” and reunited with her beloved husband Arthur, her parents and brothers, and her dear missionary Aunt Francis, who was the person who influenced her deep, lifelong faith in Christ.

Ruthanne was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on December 11, 1940 to Carlisle B. and Marie Mason (nee Scalera), who preceded her in death. She grew up in the family home in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and enjoyed sharing stories from her childhood - - stories about her Auntie Francis, who stayed with them in the summers, stories about her parents, her brother, and her best friend, Sally.

In 1957, Ruthanne married John R. Bourgoyne and they had a daughter. The marriage didn't last for the young couple, and Ruthanne returned home to live with her parents. She found work as a nurse’s aide and sold Coventry jewelry. Later, she was employed by Western Electric.

In 1961, Ruthanne and Eugene L. Barnum were married. They had two sons and three daughters during the marriage, and relocating from New England to New Jersey, they raised their children there. When that marriage ended, Ruthanne completed an Associates degree at Cape-Atlantic Community College, and then a Bachelor’s degree at Richard Stockton University. She managed on her own as a live-in caregiver for an elderly woman, until she met the love of her life, Arthur Descamps. They were married in 1989 and were blessed with 32 years together.

In addition to her parents, Ruthanne was also preceded in death by two brothers, who died in infancy, her brother, Carl B. Mason, who died in 2023, and her husband, Arthur C. Descamps, who died in 2021. She was also preceded in death by an adopted son, D. Dorian Henzie.

Ruthanne is survived by her children, Chrissi, Drew, Colleen, Carol, Dawn and Micha, as well as 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by her step-daughter, Dawn Berkey (nee Descamps), her husband Corey, and their children.

Ruthanne will be remembered for many things. One is her love of singing, especially hymns. While attending the community college, she took voice lessons and would sing church solos as often as asked. She had a strong voice and could clearly be heard even during congregational singing. Even at the last, she enjoyed singing hymns with her daughter Chrissi, who visited her daily in the hospital and rehabilitation facility. When Chrissi showed her a video of the special music from Sunday, April 26th, Ruthanne smiled as she watched George and Celeste sing, “If It Had Not Been For The Lord.” When the song was over, she said, “It's perfect!”

Ruthanne was also a passionate gardener, and would at times work late at night with the help of a spotlight to tend to her big, cheery flower garden by the back door of the house she raised her children in. There were also huge vegetable gardens in both side yards, in which she and Gene grew many different vegetables. Weeding the big gardens was a job assigned to the children, who naturally disliked the task, but learned to appreciate gardening and the fruits of those labors, nevertheless.

Ruthanne was up for whatever challenge life put in her path and lived her life with resilience, persistence, and a strong faith in God. She taught her children about the Lord, making time daily for many years to read the Bible to them each morning, tasking them with memorization of verses, followed by family hymn singing, which was accompanied by her self-taught organ playing. To the best of her ability, she taught them how to sew, cook, and garden. She took them tramping through the New Jersey pine forests to pick wild huckleberries. She sat in a lifeguard chair sunning so they could play in the swimming pool. She was proud of their educational accomplishments, and collected boxes of school artifacts over the years. Wherever she called home, she displayed their progressive school pictures on her walls.

In her life, Ruthanne faced some unique challenges. She once shared a dream she had in which she was bound up in many chains, each having a lock. She related that in the dream, God showed her that he was breaking one lock at a time, releasing her from the chains. Now, she is in His presence, and all her chains are gone! Glory be to God! She is now the perfect version of herself that God intended and created her to be. How great are His mercies. His love endures forever.

Family & friends are invited to attend her viewing Wednesday, May 6th from 10 – 11 AM at Jackson Funeral Home, 308 Haddon Avenue, Haddon Township, NJ, where her funeral service will begin at 11 AM. Interment Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill, NJ.

Arrangements by Jackson Funeral Home, Haddon Township, NJ www.jacksonfh.net