Sister Rena Ruddy, OP
Jubilarian 2025 – 70 Years a Sister
Prayer Ministry
Pray for our country’s leaders to establish freedom of religion.
70th Jubilee Reflection
Blessed and happy has been my religious life these past 70 years. I give heartfelt thanks to God, my community, family, and friends who have supported me on my journey.
I was born in Flint, Michigan and attended St. Mary elementary and high school in Mt. Morris with IHM Sister teachers. After graduation I worked four years in various places in the Detroit area.
On a retreat, I came to know the Adrian Sisters, then I decided to visit the Sisters in Monroe. I decided to investigate the Dominican Sisters in Grand Rapids. Sister Therese Rodriguez showed me around, and I felt this was the place for me.
I attended Aquinas College, then taught the lower grades in seven different Catholic schools. When I helped my students enter a contest, one of them won first prize. Such a celebration followed!
Art is of great interest to me. I have enjoyed painting nature – trees, birds, waterfalls. I am part of the Dominican Institute of Art (DIA) where I have shown my artwork. Flower arranging is a pleasure; my arrangements can be found at Marywood and Aquinata Hall.
Travel opportunities in Ireland, the Holy Land, and California, created opportunities to share photos and stories of these adventures.
“Blessed and happy has been my religious life as a Grand Rapids Dominican. I am grateful for the many opportunities given me, especially to visit the Holy Land in 1995. I give heartfelt thanks to God, my community, family and friends who have helped me on my journey.”
Rena Margaret Ruddy, born October 28, 1931 in Flint, Michigan was the second of eleven children of Francis and Julia Marie Rousseau Ruddy. At age two the family moved to a farm in Mt. Morris, Michigan. Rena graduated from St. Mary School in 1949. Following graduation she worked two years at St. Francis Home for Boys in Detroit, next at the Federal Reserve Bank and then for Detroit City Ice and Fuel Co. She traveled extensively.
At the age of 23 Rena answered God’s call and joined the Grand Rapids Dominicans on January 29,1955. In 1958 Sister Rena began her teaching apostolate at Blessed Sacrament School, GR and continued as an elementary teacher at Holy Family, Saginaw and St. Michael, Maple Grove. From there she went to the Detroit Archdiocese: Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn; St. Alfred, Taylor; and St. Ann, Warren. After a long ministry in teaching, she became Christian Service Director at St. Matthias Parish, Sterling Heights.
Sister Rena holds two degrees from Aquinas College, one in education and one in Religious Studies.
Sister Rena moved to Marywood July 30, 2014. She continues her hobbies which include music, concerts, acrylic painting, and floral arrangements.
