A funeral Mass for Sister Ruth (Mary Fourier) Chausse was celebrated at Theresa Center Chapel in St. Louis. Sister Ruth died June 26 at Mary Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis. She was 81.
She was the fourth of seven children was born to Mildred (Boehler) and Donald Chausse at St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield, Illinois, on Sept. 17, 1942. She was baptized at St. Louis Church in Nokomis, Illinois, on Oct. 4, 1942, and named Ruth Cecilia.
Ruth attended St. Louis Catholic School and applied to enter the aspiranture at Sancta Maria in Ripa for her high school education. She graduated from Notre Dame High School. She entered the candidature at Sancta Maria in Ripa on Aug. 25, 1960. She was received into the novitiate on July 29, 1961, and given the name Mary Fourier. She professed first vows on July 30, 1962, and final vows on July 30, 1967. She would later return to her baptismal name.
Sister Ruth earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis in 1964 and a master’s degree in elementary education from the State College of Arkansas (now University of Central Arkansas), in Conway, Arkansas, in 1972.
Sister Ruth taught elementary children for 18 years throughout Missouri and Illinois, including Our Lady, Queen of Peace, House Springs; St. Liborius, St. Louis; St. Francis Borgia, Washington; St. Joseph, East St. Louis, Illinois; St. Joseph, Farmington; and St. James, Millstadt, Illinois. Additionally, she was a principal for 32 years at St. Joseph, East St. Louis; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Louis; St. Joseph, Farmington; St. Peter Cathedral, Belleville, Illinois; St. Theresa of Avila, Salem, Illinois; and St. Louis, Nokomis.
Sister Ruth spent her last 10 years in Catholic education as the principal at her elementary school in Nokomis while caring for her mother until her death. Her gift of leadership and willing service was an example to family members and to the Nokomis community.
In 2012, Sister Ruth returned to St. Louis and volunteered at Maria Center on the Sancta Maria in Ripa campus. She also began a ministry to the elderly with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Ministries in St. Louis. She served as a caregiver with Assistance Home Care in St. Charles for two years and then for various places in the St. Louis area for one year. For an additional three years, she worked with Good Samaritan Senior Care in St. Louis.
Sister Ruth worked in volunteer services at Theresa Center for two years prior to her moving in 2019 to Veronica House at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton. In May 2020, she was missioned to Mother of Perpetual Help Residence. As her health declined, she was transferred to Mary Queen and Mother Center in December 2023. She was placed on hospice in March 2024.
She is survived by her brother Donald (Rita), her sisters Jeanene (Marion) Dahler and Patricia Garrett, nieces, nephews and extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Donald Chausse, her brother Gerald (Dianna) and her sisters Jeanette (Loren) Trost and Mary (Edward) Schafer. Burial was in the Sancta Maria in Ripa cemetery.
