Sr. Ruth Greiwe's Obituary
Sr. Ruth Greiwe, age 95 of the Srs. of St. Francis in Oldenburg, died Thursday, August 6, 2015 at the convent. Born February 13, 1920 in Greensburg, Indiana, she is the daughter of Margaret (Nee: Harpring) and George Greiwe.
She entered the convent February 2, 1941 and made her final vows August 12, 1946. She taught Chemistry, Physics, Science, Math, English and Religion at Our Lady of Angels in Cincinnati, Badin High School in Hamilton, Ohio, Fenwick High School in Middletown, Ohio, Immaculate Conception Academy in Oldenburg, St. Mary's Academy and Scecina High School in Indianapolis and Tari High School in Tari, Papua New Guinea. She would return to the Motherhouse in 1995.
One of eight children, she grew up on a large farm outside Greensburg staying busy tending to large gardens, orchards, chickens, cattle and sheep. All that work created piles of laundry so Mondays were reserved for washing and Tuesdays were spent ironing and folding. Sr. Ruth attended grade school in a one room school house and remembers the excitement of moving to Greensburg High School with many classrooms and teachers. During her senior year she seriously began thinking about entering religious life.
The family would often come to the Srs. of St. Francis in Oldenburg to visit her aunt, Sr. Firmina Greiwe. With encouragement from her aunt and her family, she entered the convent in 1941. Her early years in the community she completed her degree work and in 1944 began teaching High School classes for the next thirty years. In 1975 her life changed dramatically.
Sr. Ruth recalled, "I was asked if I was ready and willing for a monumental change in my life - foreign missionary work on a primitive island..........it would change my life forever. I accepted the challenge and recall my first few days in New Guinea were exciting, confusing and enriching. There was not just one primitive culture, but people from many cultures - Australian, Swiss, Irish, German and Indian. It was another period of growing and stretching in mind, soul and body." She would teach at Tari High School in New Guinea for twenty years and would help establish the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Community to continue their work once they left the country.
Leaving was difficult as Sr. Ruth thrived on the challenges but would later author a book entitled "Chronicle Account of the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, Indiana Serving in Papua New Guinea." It was a collection of stories, memories and photographs from the 26 sisters who served during the 50 years the sisters ministered there. Although her eyesight began failing, she would see the book to its' completion, being published in 2008.
Sr. Ruth was an avid reader, but with her eyesight worsening, she would eventually trade printed books for books on tape. She celebrated her 75th Jubilee in July. Sr. Ruth is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by sisters Leona Zepf, Olivia Greiwe, Bertha Ann Greiwe and brothers Raymond, Carl, Albert and Bernard Greiwe.
Visitation is Monday, August 10th, from 1 - 3 p.m. at the Convent Chapel. Funeral services follow at 3 p.m. with Rev. Robert Weakley O.F.M. officiating. Burial will be in the convent cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Srs. of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, IN, 47036 (www.OldenburgFranciscans.org).
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