Elizabeth Ann “Beth” Runkal
May 6, 1962 – September 3, 2026
It is with great sadness that the family of Elizabeth Ann “Beth” Runkal (née Rull), of Dorchester, announces her passing on September 3, 2026, at the age of 64 following complications from ovarian cancer. Beth faced an extended illness with courage and grace, never complaining about her circumstances, choosing rather to focus her care on the people she loved. She passed peacefully in her own home, as she wished, surrounded by her beloved family. Her daughter, Erin, was by her side for her final breath.
Born in Boston on May 6, 1962, Beth was the first daughter of Charles Rull Sr. and Eileen (Lomasney) Rull. She lived her entire life in Boston, spending her final years in Dorchester, near her daughter, across the hall from her mother and sister, and surrounded by her community of friends and neighbors.
Beth’s greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted mother to her only child, Erin Elizabeth Kelly (née Runkal), and a loving mother-in-law to Christopher S. Kelly. She was the cherished grandmother of Katherine Elizabeth, Dylan James, and Jack Charles. She showed up to every game, event, and celebration to cheer them on and was immensely proud of the people they were becoming.
Beth was also a second mother to her sister Jean’s children, Christopher, Jenna, and Joseph, whom she helped raise, maintaining a constant and loving presence in their lives.
Beth was one of seven children. She was the beloved sister of Robert J. Rull and his wife, Christine, of Randolph, and their sons, Joseph and Kevin; the late Kevin E. Rull; the late William F. “Billy” Rull; Jean M. Grande (née Rull) of Dorchester and her children, Christopher, Jenna, and Joseph and his fiancée Alice; Leo A. Rull of Boston; and Charles E. Rull Jr. and his wife, Odalis, of Plymouth, and their children, Brian and his fiancée, Mika, and Elizabeth Serrano (née Rull), her husband, Jeremiah, and their daughter, Talia. She was also the sister of paternal half-brothers, Daniel Rull and Joseph Rull of Boston.
She was a beloved great-aunt to Talia Grace, whose visits brought her tremendous joy. Another great-niece, Avery Elizabeth, is expected in December. Although Beth will never have the chance to meet Avery, she already loved her immensely. Her family will make sure their littlest ones grow up knowing just how much their great-aunt loved them.
Beth was predeceased by her husband, Robert L. Runkal of Plymouth, and her brothers, Kevin and Billy.
She was first and foremost a natural caretaker, always checking in on the people she loved, making sure everyone was safe, fed, comfortable, and doing alright. She showed up for every holiday, family gathering, birthday, sporting event, and celebration, often arriving with a tray of her famous potato salad, a family favorite.
She loved to cook and decorate her home, taking pride in creating a warm and welcoming place to host the people she loved. She enjoyed taking photographs and making scrapbooks, shopping trips, long drives, bingo and dice with the ladies, and listening to music. She loved to socialize and was known to spontaneously burst into song and dance, bringing energy, laughter, and fun wherever she went. Her laugh was deep, genuine, and contagious—a laugh that seemed to come directly from her heart and never failed to make others stop and smile.
Beth was not particularly religious, but she loved God and Jesus. She often cited the Footprints prayer, believing that God had carried her through the stormiest times of her life, bringing her eventually to safety and peace. She was never bitter or resentful, choosing instead to reflect and be grateful for all the blessings she had been given, paying it forward whenever possible.
At the Keystone, Beth found a community of friends she came to love dearly. She helped establish regular bingo games and, until her final illness, assisted with the events planning board. She volunteered often, helped her neighbors with errands, and was always willing to go the extra mile for someone else.
In her later years, Beth devoted herself to caring for her mother, Eileen, whom she considered her very first and best friend. She loved spending time with her mom, snuggling up to have “girl talk,” and taking her not only to appointments, but on rides to the beach or out shopping. She was grateful to live near her mother and sister Jean at the Keystone and the three women were inseparable. When Beth could no longer be her mother’s caregiver due to the side effects of her final illness, Jean stepped up, providing constant care, assistance, and companionship, making sure Beth could remain in her own home as she wished through her final days.
Beth’s life was not defined by a career or material things, but more significantly by the care she freely gave to others throughout her lifetime. She grew up helping her mother and her siblings when they found themselves alone and struggled, at just 18 she chose life for her daughter, raising her with love and strong values amid incredibly difficult circumstances, reinforcing the importance of education and the necessity of loving oneself. She often said, “It’s not where you live, but how you live.” She stepped up to raise her sister’s children, keeping them together to give them a safe home filled with love. She cared for her mother, adored and cherished her grandchildren, supported her nieces and nephews, and looked after friends and neighbors whenever they needed her help. Beth also found great comfort in her “bonus” family; her son in law Chris and the entire Kelly family, her wonderful sisters in law Christine and Odalis (as welll as thier families), her niece’s husband Jeremiah, and with her nephews fiancées Alice and Mika who have done nothing but enrich our entire family.
Beth was, in one word, a caregiver. She gave without question, without expectation, and without asking what she would receive in return. She was the embodiment of perfect love and carried herself with grace in the face of adversity and illness.
She is deeply missed by her family, friends, and greater community.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 10:00a.m. in St. Ann’s Church in Neponset. A gathering for family and friends will be held afterward at Florian Hall in Dorchester. Beth will be laid to rest at a later date alongside her beloved brothers, Kevin and Billy.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Beth’s name to the American Cancer Society or a local cancer charity of choice. Beth received help, kindness, and emotional support from several organizations throughout her illness, and her family hopes to honor her memory by paying that kindness forward to others in need.