The funeral Mass for Sister Ruth Ellen Dean, DC, was celebrated June 11 at the Seton Residence Chapel in Evansville, Ind. Sister Ruth Ellen died June 6 at Seton Residence. She was 82 years old and a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul for 65 years.
Born Sept. 6, 1935, in Dallas, Sister Ruth Ellen entered the Daughters of Charity in January 1953 in St. Louis. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1964 from Marillac College in St. Louis; a master’s in education in 1967 from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn.; and a master’s in religious education in 1986 from Loyola University in Chicago.
Sister Ruth Ellen served 22 years of ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. She taught at St. Patrick School (1962-66), was supervisor of the archdiocesan Headstart Program (1966) and was education consultant for Daughters of Charity Shared Services in St. Louis (1967). She then joined the faculty of Marillac College and served first as an education instructor and then as the chair of teacher education (1968-76). In addition, she was the local community superior at St. Catherine Labouré Residence (1973-76).
From 1976-82, Sister Ruth Ellen taught at St. Matthias School, then was the director of religious education at the parish (1982-84). While at St. Matthias, she reprised her role as local community superior (1978-84). She also lived and volunteered at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton (2010-11).
In addition to service in St. Louis, Sister Ruth Ellen taught in Louisiana and California, and ministered in Texas, Arkansas and Indiana.
Sister Ruth Ellen is survived by a sister, Lillian Rose Burford of Dallas.
