The following obituaries were published for Violet Adams Nowland, 84, Norton; Ruby D. Hamilton, 83, Attleboro.

Violet Adams Nowland, 84

NORTON - Violet Adams Nowland, 84, of West Main Street, Norton, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister, died peacefully on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro after a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of 56 years to Everett W. Nowland.

Born on Jan. 23, 1924 in Houlton, Maine, Violet was a daughter of the late Olden H. and Alice N. (Stewart) Adams. She was raised in Crystal and Gardiner, Maine and was a graduate of Gardiner High School, Class of 1942. Violet later graduated from Farmington State Teachers College in Farmington, Maine. A gifted athlete, Violet earned varsity letters in four collegiate sports: her favorite being basketball, softball, volleyball and soccer.

Mrs. Nowland was an elementary school teacher for 33 years, dedicating 22 years to teaching and educating in the Norton school system until retiring in 1985. She was also a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Education Society. Family and church were the staples of Violet's life. She enjoyed raising her sons and in later years enjoyed the company of her five grandchildren. Violet was a member of Faith Alliance Church in Attleboro for over 50 years and was a volunteer at the New Testament Christian School in Norton. She enjoyed gardening, canning, sewing and the outdoors. Violet also enjoyed sports and especially liked the Boston Celtics.

In addition to her beloved husband, Everett, Violet is survived by two sons, Dean E. Nowland and his wife Lu Ann of Taunton, and David O. Nowland and his wife Marilyn G. (Wain) of Attleboro; a twin sister, Viola M. Hinds of Lake Stevens, Wash.; an additional sister, Marie Sparks and her husband Kenneth of Augusta, Maine; five grandchildren: Sarah Mendez and her husband Edwin in California, Jamie Nowland and Michael Nowland, both of Attleboro, and Allison Nowland and Ryan Nowland, both of Taunton; sister-in-laws, Rachel Adams of Portland, Maine and Alberta Craig of South China, Maine; brother-in-laws: Allen Fisher of Anacortes, Wash., Cecil Nowland of South China and Maland Nowland of Vassalboro, Maine; and many nieces and nephews.

Violet was the sister of the late Winford Adams, Eldon Adams, George Adams, Wavie Dyer and Mona Fisher.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend a Celebration of Violet's Life on Monday, April 21 at 1 p.m in Faith Alliance Church, 833 Pleasant St. (Route 123) in Attleboro. Following services, an invitation is extended for all to return with the family for a continued time of friendship in the church's fellowship hall.

Visiting hours are respectfully omitted and burial will be held at a later date in Maine.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Violet's memory may be made to: Faith Alliance Church and/or American Parkinson Disease Association, 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305, or at www.apdaparkinson.org.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck St., Attleboro.

An online guest book for family and friends to express condolences may be found at: www.duffy-poule.com.

Ruby D. Hamilton, 83

ATTLEBORO - Ruby D. Hamilton, 83, of Canterbury Woods, Attleboro, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, died Thursday, April 17, 2008 at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro. She was the beloved wife of the late James E. Hamilton, who died in 1994. Born in Bar Harbor, Maine on Feb. 17, 1925, Ruby was a daughter of the late Herbert and Evelyn (Mitchell) Dunham.

She was the loving mother of Joseph E. Hamilton of Rehoboth and the late James H. Hamilton.

She attended a one-room schoolhouse until high school and later attended nursing school at the University of Maine. Ruby married James on Oct. 12, 1946 and raised her two boys in Taunton.

She operated Shamrock Kennels in Taunton and bred Irish setters. She retired to Florida but sadly missed her family and moved back to the area, settling in Cranston, R.I. and then later in Attleboro.

Ruby became crew chief for Balloon Fantasies of Rehoboth in 1985, and received her Balloon Pilot Certificate at the age of 65.

After the passing of her husband in 1994, she was hired as a school crossing guard and safely assisted children at the intersection of Bank Street and Peck Street in Attleboro. Ruby had a smile and a wave for everyone who passed through the intersection and loved all the children who crossed or waited with her for the school bus.

An animal lover, Ruby also enjoyed playing the piano, organ, violin, harmonica and the accordion. She loved playing card games, playing bingo and solving jigsaw puzzles. She was an all-around handywoman and gardener, and kept her own yard and home until moving to Canterbury Woods three years ago. Ruby brought her smile to Canterbury Woods, where she will be truly missed by all, especially her best friend Bob.

In addition to her beloved son, Joseph, Ruby is survived by Joseph's wife, Beth; her late son James's wife, Helen; four grandchildren: Kelly Welzel, Dawn Ward, Joe Hamilton and Jessie Fay; two great- granddaughters, Allison Ward and Ryann Welzel; and a brother, Charles Dunham of El Cajon, Calif.

She was the beloved sister of the late Irving Dunham and Ruth Dunham Bull.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend visiting hours on Sunday, April 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck St., Attleboro.

A funeral service will be conducted on Monday, April 21 at 10 a.m. in the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home by the Rev. Arthur DePietro. Mrs. Hamilton will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband James in Timothy Plain Cemetery in Norton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruby's memory may be made to: MSPCA, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130.

An online guest book for family and friends to express condolences may be found at www.duffy-poule.com.