Sister Celestine Ruder died November 28, 2015, at Mt. Joseph Senior Village in Concordia, KS. She was 98 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 80 years. She was born in Antonino, KS, on May 15, 1917, to Henry and Mary Boos Ruder, the fourth of eleven children, and was baptized Rosaline. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, KS on February 5, 1935. On August 14, 1935, Rosaline received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Celestine. She pronounced first vows on August 15, 1936, and final vows on August 15, 1939.

Sister Celestine worked in the dietary departments of the Motherhouse, Marymount College, Sabetha Hospital and St. Mary's Academy, Silver City, NM. In addition, she was cook and housekeeper for many parochial school missions in Kansas and Nebraska. She also spent several years caring for the sick and elderly. In 2005 she retired to the Motherhouse in Concordia. She moved to Mt. Joseph Senior Village in July of this year.

Sister Celestine was preceded in death by her parents and her 10 siblings. A Bible Vigil Service will be held December 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the Nazareth Motherhouse Chapel with Sister Marcia Allen as the eulogist. The Mass of Christian Burial will be December 2 at 10:30 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel with Fr. Jim Hoover presiding. The burial will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery. Chaput-Buoy Mortuary, 325 W. 6 ^th St., Concordia, KS is in charge of arrangements. Memorials for Sister Celestine Ruder may be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph Health Care/ Retirement Fund or the Apostolic Works of the Sisters; P.O. Box 279, Concordia, KS 66901. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.