Patricia Ann Alders

Patricia Ann Alders ran into the arms of Jesus on March 15, 2026. Patricia was born on March 17, 1936, to Margaret Setchell Ruhlman and Leo Ruhlman in Atchison, Kansas. She was joyfully welcomed into the world by six older brothers and one sister, and later by her baby sister.

Being born on St. Patrick's Day, Patricia earned honorary Irish status, which she proudly celebrated for nearly 90 years. While her father's meat market provided for the family, her tiny mother raised nine children to serve God and country. Pat's childhood role as number eight was spent beside her mother's apron and, on special occasions, sitting atop an ice cream maker while a sibling turned the crank.

Pat delighted in noisy meals where everyone was welcome as well as snowy Christmas Eve Masses, each Ruhlman child wearing newly knitted scarves and gloves. She attended St. Joseph's Grade School and Mount St. Scholastica Academy in Atchison before realizing her lifelong dream of becoming a Registered Nurse in 1957 at the College of Saint Teresa School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri.

A year later, Pat married Jack Alders, a handsome and promising mechanical engineer from St. Joseph, MO. Together they raised four children while living in Kansas, Iowa, Louisiana, and Texas. Pat's career as an oncology nurse blessed numerous patients and families across several hospitals.

After settling in Texas, Pat and Jack attended Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Arlington. Their faith was deepened through the Cursillo community, and their home was often filled with songs from retreats, along with music from Neil Diamond and Johnny Cash.

Pat retired from nursing at Arlington Memorial Hospital. Her last patient was her husband, whom she lovingly supported through cancer until his death in 2001. As a widow for 25 years, she continued to celebrate their wedding anniversaries.

"Mema" devoted her life to her family and to St. Maria Goretti Church, where she was energized by children's ministry and stood firmly for truth and justice. With a heart for others, Pat started a one-woman clown ministry. She loved to make people laugh, dressing in butterfly glasses and pink angel wings. She quickly adopted strangers and new friends as her chosen children. Her final years were spent sharing Jesus with others through gifts—her love language.

Now, she is seated at the table with her Heavenly Father, reunited with deceased family members and friends, where she will never again feel alone or afraid.

Pat is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Alders; her parents, Margaret and Leo Ruhlman; and her siblings Leo, Jack, Bill, Clarence, Don, and Ann Ruhlman.

She is survived by her siblings Richard Ruhlman and Mary Becker; her children Lisa and Barry Hornburg, Tim and Teena Alders, Tom and Angie Alders, and Marianne and Robert Breece; her grandchildren TJ and Stacy Alders, Amanda and Josh Steger, Hana and Wesley Chandler, Trevor Alders, Bo and Chelsea Hornburg, Courtney Alders, Trent and Madison Alders, and Michelle Alders; and her great-grandchildren Ledger Alders, Hunter Alders, Beckham Alders, Jackson Steger, Amelia Steger, Jack Chandler, Asher Chandler, Hadwin Chandler, Nella Alders, Sofia Hornburg, Benjamin Hornburg, Georgia Hornburg, Theodore Hornburg, Cohen Alders, Olivia Alders, Barrett Alders, Abby Alders, and Harper Alders.

Pat's family will gather for a graveside service, officiated by her grandson Bo Hornburg, on March 19 at 3:00 PM at Moore Memorial Gardens, 1219 North Davis Drive in Arlington. Pallbearers are grandchildren TJ Alders, Amanda Steger, Hana Chandler, Trevor Alders, Courtney Alders, Michelle Alders, and Trent Alders.

Pat's Celebration of Life will be held on April 11 at noon at Windview Estates Clubhouse, 4103 Windermere Court, Colleyville, Texas. Please join us for this informal gathering when "bells will be ringing for me and my family!"

For flower and card delivery on April 11, please send to: Tim Alders, 3906 Woodstock Drive, Colleyville, TX 76034. 817-683-8786

Requests for memorial Masses can be made at franciscansmissions.org. Pat also supported Boys Town and the Society of the Sacred Heart.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" —Psalm 27:1