Sister Ruth Edward Durfee of Trenton
Sister Ruth Edward Durfee, 75, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died unexpectedly on Friday, October 12, 2018 at her residence in Trenton, NJ.
Sister Ruth Edward was born in Englewood, New Jersey, the daughter of Edward and Ruth (Francisco) Durfee. She entered the Sisters of Charity on September 6, 1961 and was a member for 57 years.
Sister Ruth graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ with a B.S. degree in Education and from Trenton State College, Trenton, NJ with a M.Ed. degree in Education. Sister Ruth served the needs of primary grade children in the Trenton and Hamilton area for 52 years. She was a Teacher, Vice Principal, and principal at Sacred Heart School, Trenton. She provided basic skills and ESL support for Catapult, Inc. of Hamilton and Robbinsville, NJ at Incarnation/St. James School, Ewing, NJ and other area schools.
Sister Ruth was well known and respected by her students and by the many people with whom she interacted in her teaching and post school activities. She loved the people of Trenton, took great delight in cooking, and had a special place in her heart and home for animals. The unofficial title of “Sister Trenton” aptly fits.
She was predeceased by her parents Edward and Ruth; her brothers, Edward and George; and her sister, Doris Desmond.
She is survived by the Sisters of Charity; her good friend, Sister Maureen Malone; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Visitation for Sister Ruth Edward Durfee will be held at Saint Anthony’s Church, 626 S. Olden Avenue, Trenton, NJ on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Family Cemetery, Convent Station on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Funeral arrangements are being coordinated by Gruerio Funeral Home, Trenton, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Sisters of Charity Development Fund, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ, 07961-0476 would be greatly appreciated.