Posted January 31, 2020

Sister Mary Ruth (Judith Ann) Ruster, C.S.F.N., died Jan. 6 at Jesus of Nazareth (Mount Nazareth) Convent in Philadelphia. She was 82 and in the 66th year of her religious life.

Born in East Stroudsburg, Pa., her family moved to Philadelphia where she attended Our Lady of Czestochowa Grade School. She converted to Catholicism at the age of 10 and was baptized in Our Lady of Czestochowa Church on April 27, 1947.

She attended Nazareth Academy High School then entered the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in 1954 and professed her final vows in 1962.

Sister Ruth received a teaching diploma in history and governance and her bachelor’s degree from Holy Family College (now Holy Family University) in 1965.

She served in education ministry at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Scranton, Pa.; Visitation B.V.M. in Trooper; Our Lady of Calvary, Nazareth Academy Grade School, Archbishop Ryan High School, Nazareth Academy High School, St. Katherine of Siena and St. Adalbert schools, all in Philadelphia.

In 2008 she began ministering as the director of religious education for St. Katherine of Siena Parish in Philadelphia.

The funeral Mass for Sister Ruth was celebrated Jan. 10 at Jesus of Nazareth (Mount Nazareth) Chapel. Donations in her memory may be made to Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, 310 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016.