Dolores “Dody” Patricia Fraher-Ruland. 2/6/57 - 2/7/22.   

In the early morning hours of 2/7/22, Dody Fraher-Ruland slipped away into the loving arms of those who have gone on before her, wrapped in the loving arms of those she left behind. She passed away at the UVM Medical Ctr. after a short illness, which she handled with grace and positivity. She was born in Bennington VT, to Helen and Michael Fraher. She attended Mt. Anthony High School and graduated from Castleton University, where she made lifelong friends. On October 6, 1979, she married the love of her life, Wesley Ruland, and together they had 2 daughters, Shayla and Kaitlyn. Dody had a long career in the Mortgage Servicing field, and was well known in that industry. Through the VT Board of Realtors, she also spent many weekends over the years with the volunteer group “Rebuilding Together”, helping her neighbors in the community whose homes were in need of rehabbing to make them safer and more livable. But that is only a small part of who she was. Dody was an incredibly kind, loving and generous person. She had a beautiful smile and a distinctive laugh, and always made anyone she met feel right at ease and welcome, wherever she was. She had friends of every age, and from many different backgrounds. If you knew Dody, you loved her, because she had a spirit that shone so brightly, you always came away the better for being with her. Her loves in life were being with her husband and daughters, extended family, friends, and her 4 legged fur babies. She loved taking long walks in the woods with her beloved dogs Sadie, Luca and Maggie. She discovered she had a talent for photography, taking and sharing with her friends, many pictures of stunning sunsets from both her home and their camp on the lake. Her passing leaves a space in our hearts that will never be filled, except for the memory of her smiling face. Dody was predeceased by her mother and father, and 3 siblings (Mary Lou, Tommy and Mickey Fraher). She is survived by her husband Wesley Ruland, daughters Shayla Ruland, Kaitlyn Ruland-Coleman, and son in law, Chris. She is also survived by her sister, Ann Caslin (Michael), and brother Denis (Dee). She also leaves her brothers-in-law, David and Charles Ruland, and sisters-in-law, Kathy and Lisa Ruland, and Althea Griffin (Scott), as well as much loved nieces and nephews, and many close and loving friends. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 11 am, at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Burlington. Flowers for the service may be sent to Ready Funeral Service at 261 Shelburne Rd, Burlington, or if you wish to make a donation in her name, please do so to Rebuilding Together Greater Burlington, PO Box 9426, South Burlington VT 05407.