It is with sadness (for us) and joy (for her) that we announce the passing of Ruth Lydia Comfield (née Andreasen) into God's presence at the age of 96 on Friday, August 28, 2026 in Oak Brook, Illinois. She was born to Knut and Inga Andreasen in Chicago, Illinois on November 8, 1929.

Ruth will be remembered by her daughters: Janice (Murray) Edmund and Lorraine (Carl) Amodio; her seven grandchildren: Cara, Rachel, Amanda, Michael, Allison, Sarah, Nathan; her 16 great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter; as well as sister-in-law Marilyn Donker and many nieces and nephews.

Ruth is preceded in death by her loving husband Robert James Comfield, her daughter Marlene Ruth, and her sisters Alice Christensen, Astrid Nerhus, and Clara Helle.

Ruth lived the full and busy life of a church musician beginning as a teenage church organist, and then achieving her Associate of Music Education in Piano and Organ at North Park College. Ruth has lived in Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Toronto. She ended up working as church organist at a total six different churches as she moved around with her family and later in life, all while still teaching private students and accompanying others.

After being widowed in 1986, she worked many jobs over the years: church organist, church secretary, synagogue secretary, CPA clerk, preschool music teacher, co-director of a Christian preschool, office work for Slavic Gospel Association, Winfield Flower Shoppe, pianist with Grace and Peace Chaplaincy.

Ruth enjoyed getting her hair wet while swimming and diving, flowers, collecting tea cups, bird watching, ice cream, walking with her neighborhood friends, and attempting to list all her great-grandchilden by name.

In lieu of flowers, Ruth suggested contributions to:

STARS

InterVarsity

AMIB - Association for the Multiple Impaired Blind

Slavic Gospel Association

College Church in Wheaton

The Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM with a funeral Service at 2:00 PM at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 North Main St., Wheaton, Il 60187. The Burial will be conducted privately at Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park, IL.