Lucille Ruder

Lucille Margaret Ruder

Age 86 of Wilmington and formerly of Grand Ridge, passed away Sunday morning May 26, 2013 at her home.

Born November 13, 1926 at home in New Lenox, Lucille was a daughter of the late James Edward and Mary Elizabeth McCarthy-Keigher. She was raised and educated in Chicago, graduated from St. Leo Grade School and attended Longwood Academy and Calumet High School before moving to Wilmington, where she graduated from Wilmington High School with the class of 1944. It was during her senior year at Wilmington that Lucille was asked by the superintendant of Schools, Mr. Lester J. Stevens to work in his office. It was then at the superintendants office that she worked prior to going away to school at the University of Illinois in Champaign. After completing one year of college, Lucille gained employment with Public Service, where she held employment until shortly after marrying Gerald R. Ruder on September 8, 1951 in Saint Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington. Lucille was a homemaker until her children entered school, when she went back to work as the librarian at Grand Ridge grade school, where her children attended. She was later promoted to secretary to the school psychologist until she and her family moved back to Wilmington in April of 1977. Once settled back in Wilmington Lucille worked for SOWIC at the Laraway School until retiring to assist her husband with the family holdings.

Lucille was an active member of Saint Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington, a member and past president the St. Rose Council of Catholic Women, where she was named Woman of the Year and belonged to the Wilmington Garden Club. Lucille enjoyed sewing, cooking and singing, and will be remembered for always being so very social.

Survivors include her husband of 61 years Jerry; three daughters: Colleen (Stephen Klasko) Wyse of Redington Shores, Florida, Dr. Maureen Ruder of Evanston and Celine Bennetts of Plainfield; four grandchildren: Elizabeth Bennetts, Nolan Buchanan, Aaron Buchanan and Kyle Buchanan, all of Evanston; one sister Ruth (the late George) Reiter of Joliet; one sister-in-law Mary Lou Keigher of Los Alamos, New Mexico and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Lucille was preceded in death by her parents; brother Donald James Keigher and her son-in-law William Buchanan.

Visitation and video tribute will be held on Friday May 31, 2013 between the hours of 4:00PM and 8:00PM at Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington. Funeral services will follow Saturday June 1st at 10:00AM in Saint Rose Catholic Church, 604 South Kankakee Street in Wilmington. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Reverend Steve Bondi and Reverend Paul Schweizer officiating.

Burial will be in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Wilmington and pallbearers will be: Elizabeth Bennetts, Nolan Buchanan, Aaron Buchanan, Kyle Buchanan, Haley O'Brien and Mark Reiter.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Lucille's memory to Saint Rose School, 626 South Kankakee Street, Wilmington, Illinois 60481 or Kuzma Care Cottage, 635 South Main Street, Wilmington, Illinois 60481.

Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences to the family by logging onto: www.FRBfuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Matthew R. Baskerville, CFSP. (815/476-2181)