Sr. Ruth McDonnell, F.S.P.

Ruth was born in New York City on November 2, 1929 to Katherine and Harry McDonnell. She attended Immaculate Conception Grammar School in the Bronx and an annex to Cathedral High School in Manhattan, graduating in 1947. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree at Hunter College, graduating in 1951. After working for two years on Wall Street, NY, Ruth felt a strong call to religious life and to the teaching profession. She learned about the Franciscan Sisters of Peekskill while on a discernment retreat and entered the novitiate in September of 1953.

Sr. Katherine Marie, as she was first named, was assigned in 1960 to the education ministry on the high school level. Her first assignment was teaching Latin and Spanish at Ladycliff Academy in Mohegan Lake, NY.

During summer vacations, Sister studied at Catholic University in Washington DC, where she earned her Masters Degree in Spanish in 1963. She also earned a certificate in Administration from SUNY, Plattsburgh.

In 1965 Ruth went to St. Joseph’s High School, a large co-educational school in West New York, NJ, where she taught Spanish and became an Assistant Principal. In 1974, Ladycliff Academy in Mohegan Lake became co-educational and was renamed Franciscan High School. Sr. Ruth returned to the school where she taught Spanish.

In 1986 Sr. Ruth became a founding member of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace. She then joined the faculty of Maria Regina High School, a girls’ High School in Hartsdale, NY, where she taught for many years.

In her earlier years, Sr. Ruth also did volunteer work at Birthright, taught ESL classes to adults and Religious Education classes to children.

Her 28 years at Maria Regina High School were wonderful, busy and happy ones, teaching Spanish with dedicated co-workers, serving as Dept. Chairperson of Languages and working with various clubs and societies as well as traveling to Spain with students and adults. She always enjoyed helping students to mature, not only academically, but spiritually and socially.

In June 2014, Sr. Ruth retired from teaching and moved to Marian Woods, a collaborative retirement facility located in Hartsdale, NY. There she served as a Eucharistic Minister and volunteered to tutor others in Spanish. Due to ill health, Sr. Ruth transitioned to St. Cabrini Nursing Home in 2017 where she continued to share her Franciscan spirit with the staff and other residents.

Sr. Ruth died peacefully on December 20, 2021 at St. Cabrini Nursing Home, Dobbs Ferry, NY. She is survived by Laurie Fournier, a first cousin, Laurie’s sons John, Paul, and Mark , and first cousins, Florence Brady, Carol and Peter Ingrassi.

The Wake Service will take place at Marian Woods, Hartsdale, NY on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 (2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.) . A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at Marian Woods Chapel on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Yonkers, NY following the Mass of Resurrection.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whalenandballfh.com for the McDonnell, F.S.P. family.