Sr. Mary Ruth Rault, DC, died Nov. 15, 2019, at Seton Residence, Evansville. Sister was 88 years of age and 70 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, at the Seton Residence Chapel in Evansville, Ind.; burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery, Evansville. 

Sister Mary Ruth (baptized Dolores Ruth) was born July 17, 1931, in New Orleans, La., and was one of four children born to Joseph J. and Johanna (Schrewe) Rault. Sister Mary Ruth was educated by the Daughters of Charity in both elementary and secondary schools and graduated from St. Stephen High School in New Orleans in 1948. In 1954, Sister Mary Ruth earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education at Fontbonne College (now University) in St. Louis.

Sister Mary Ruth entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis from St. Stephen Parish, New Orleans, La., in July of 1949. Following her initial formation, Sister Mary Ruth pursued studies in education at Marillac College, St. Louis, Mo., (1950 to 1951); then, she was missioned to Perryville, Mo., where she served as a Secondary Teacher at St. Vincent High School (1951 to 1953). Sister returned to St. Louis in 1953, where she taught at St. Louise de Marillac School (1953 to 1958); then, she was missioned to California, where she taught at Our Lady of Talpa School in Los Angeles (1958 to 1960) and St. Vincent High School in San Francisco (1960 to 1964). 

In 1964, Sister Mary Ruth began a ministry as Business Office Manager at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis (1964 to 1965) and at Providence Hospital in Mobile, Ala., (1965 to 1975). In 1975, having earned certificates in Pastoral Associate Healthcare and Advanced CPE from the National Association of Catholic Chaplains in Washington, D.C., Sister Mary Ruth began ministering in Pastoral Care, serving as a Pastoral Care Associate at Providence Hospital, Southfield, Mich., (1975 to 1985). 

Sister Mary Ruth was missioned to Detroit, Mich., where she served as a Chaplain in Jail Ministry (1983 to 1986) and as a Volunteer of Team for Justice (1986 to 1989; she also served as Local Community Superior during this time). Sister Mary Ruth was then missioned to Fort Wayne, Ind., where she served as Director of Vincent House Family Shelter (1989 to 1991; she also served as Local Community Superior). In 1992, Sister Mary Ruth was missioned to Saginaw, Mich., where she served for the next 15 years as a Chaplain in Catholic Jail Ministry (1992 to 2007; she also served as Local Community Superior, 2000 to 2007). In 2007, Sister Mary Ruth entered the Ministry of Prayer at Seton Residence, Evansville, Ind.; she served there until the time of her death. 

Sister Mary Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Joseph Rault, and her sisters, Lucille Rousselle and Alice Rault. She is survived by nieces Marie Alice Rousselle and Cathy 

Hassinger (Kenny), nephew Mel Rault, many grandnieces and grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, her Sisters in Community, and many friends.