Sister Ruth Yost, 1924-2011
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Born November 15, 1924, Covington, Kentucky Entered St. Walburg Monastery, September 8, 1948 Received habit, June 30, 1949 First Profession, August 24, 19503 Died September 13, 2011 |
Sister Ruth Yost, OSB was born to Joseph E. and Ann Mary Schimian Yost on November 15, 1924 and
was given the name Marian Augusta at her baptism. She was the oldest of three children—Joanne and
Joseph are deceased. Marian graduated from Holy Cross High School and Villa Madonna College where she majored in English with minors in biology and philosophy. For one year she taught third grade at St. Mary Cathedral School, a position she accepted on the advice of Sr. Irmina. Having no education courses or teaching experience, she struggled through but profited greatly from the experience. At the end of that year Marian decided she had a religious vocation.
Familiar with the Benedictine Sisters, Marian became a postulant at St. Walburg Monastery on September 8, 1948, a novice, Sister Ruth, on June 30, 1949. First and perpetual monastic professions occurred on Aug. 24, 1950 and Aug. 24, 1953, silver and golden jubilees in 1975 and 2000.
Like so many others, Sr. Ruth spent Saturdays and summers in education classes. She taught at Villa Madonna Academy until 1961, when Mother Benedict appointed her subprioress. During this time of her service the community added an infirmary wing to the monastery, founded Madonna Manor, and undertook a renewal program. Sr. Ruth was vital in all these undertakings. Elected prioress in 1970, she continued to lead and direct these new projects. Following her term as prioress Sr. Ruth studied nursing at Jewish Hospital and became an R.N. in 1980. She served in the infirmary for five years and then at Madonna Manor in various capacities, residing there until 1998 when she and the other Manor sisters moved to the monastery. During those years at the Manor, her mother and sister were residents; she considered this a great blessing. At the monastery she was a valued participant in monastic life.
A worsening heart condition led to Sr. Ruth’s residence in the infirmary. A recent fall precipitated her declining physical condition. A woman of dedication and fidelity to the monastic way of life, she died Tuesday afternoon, September 13, 2011, surrounded by her monastic sisters. Sr. Ruth is survived by the Benedictine community, her sister-in-law, nieces, nephews and many friends.