Mary Ann (Adoratrice) Ruhde, BVM
Sister Mary Ann (Adoratrice) Ruhde, BVM died at Caritas Center in Dubuque, Iowa, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020.
Funeral services were Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in the Marian Hall Chapel. Burial is in the Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Sister Mary Ann was an elementary principal and teacher at Sacred Heart, Maquoketa, Iowa. She ministered as principal in East Moline, Ill., and taught in Chicago; Butte, Mont.; Boulder, Colo.; Omaha, Neb.; Petaluma, Calif.; and Davenport, Iowa, where she also served as a certified nursing aide, a cook and a cafeteria manager.
She was born on Aug. 31, 1937, in Davenport, Iowa, to William & Ruth Mary (Willits) Ruhde. She entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1955, from St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Davenport, Iowa. She professed first vows on Feb. 3, 1958, and final vows on July 16, 1963.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister Janet Ruhde. She is survived by a sister Patricia (Fabian) Skretta, Neola, Iowa; nieces; nephews; and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 64 years.
Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003 or online at https://www.bvmsisters.org/support_donate.cfm.
Mary Ann Ruhde sharing of memories
Remembering Aunt Mary as giving lots of love, and a devoted, reliable, thoughtful and caring heart. Mary took great comfort and confidence in God’s love, and was at ease talking with me and my daughters (her grand nieces) about God and living a life of Christianity. We nieces and nephews are forever indebted to how she and Sister Louise cared for our grandparents (William & Ruth Ruhde) and Aunt Janet Ruhde. When Aunt Mary served as a principal of a Catholic School in Maquoketa Iowa, I was a child, and this was the first time i saw a woman in a leadership position outside of the home. I will miss her but am relieved that she is no longer in pain or suffering. Thank you and lots of love to Sister Louise and all the sisters who helped Mary survive the frustrations and pain of her physical decline.The Aunt Mary I knew handled this decline with grace, and your love helped her to do so.
With love and gratitude,
Angela Skretta