Marie Frances Ruff

She can be described as nothing better than a hardworking Irish Catholic. She spent much of her time with the church surrounded by the Sisters of Mercy. She would work with them at Little Company where she started as an obstetric floor nurse. After 44 years she would retire as the Vice President of nursing. A leadership role like that was uncommon for her day. She worked against boundaries and barriers to reach that level. As such she was an early pioneer of woman leadership in healthcare.

The greatest memories will be held by her family. When Christmas came, many would gather in her house and celebrate with her. The food may not have been the greatest, but what was perfect was the family together. There was laughter on the eve and at the dawn when Christ would be borne sons, daughters, and grandchildren would gather downstairs for presents and a Christmas mass in the home.

These meetings and the love she had would not stay with family. The door was never shut to anyone. She would host a monthly mass in her home and allow a frequent book club. In Beverly, where she lived, down ten blocks way to ten the other all would know her charity. Frequently her hearth was opened as people sat and discussed with her their day-to-day business.

She was an avid traveler and would travel in retirement with Father William Keneally, now deceased, to Germany, England, Ireland, Italy, and many more. In these adventures she grew a cultivation of the arts. She would see the many wonders of the world from the Sistine Chapel to the Blarney Stone. Her arts would expand at home where she collected works of Shakespeare and many other classical works. She would frequent the opera and museums always cultivating her love of art.

She joins Christ and her husband Clairmont A. “Monty” Ruff in heaven. She was the mother of Clairmont III, Thomas (Maureen), John (Josephine), Claire, and the late Elizabeth and William; grandmother of eleven: Clairmont IV, Elizabeth (Danny), John Jr. (Madeleine), Cailin, Thomas Jr., John, Jason, Vince, Luke, Grace and Mary; great grandmother of two: John Ruff III and Willow Paris Ruff.

The wake will be held for family and friends on 29th March from 4 to 9 p.m. at St. Barnabas in Chicago, Illinois. The next day, 30th March, the funeral will be held with a 10 a.m. viewing and 11 a.m. service.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Marie Ruff’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/donate.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.blakelamboaklawn.com for the Ruff family.