Sister Ruth Greble, M.M. Maryknoll Sister for 74 Years, Dies

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Ruth Elizabeth Greble, M.M. died on Sunday, April 9, 2023 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 101 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 74 years.

On November 16, 1921, Ruth Elizabeth Greble was born in Philadelphia, PA to Emma (Klotz) Greble and Robert Greble.  She had one sister who pre-deceased her.  Her nieces and nephews survive her.

Ruth attended John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School in Philadelphia, PA from 1936-1939.   She attended Pierce Business School in Philadelphia in 1940.

Ruth entered the Maryknoll Sisters on September 6, 1949 at Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.  She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on March 7, 1952, from Maryknoll, NY, and her Final Vows on March 8, 1955, also in Maryknoll, NY.  Sister Ruth received her first mission assignment as the secretary to the Superior General of the Maryknoll Priests and Brothers in 1952-1956.

From 1956-1960 she studied at Rogers College in Maryknoll, NY obtaining a Bachelor of Education in 1960.  She received a Master’s degree in Geography from Boston University in 1961. She continued her studies and did her doctoral dissertation research in Tanzania from 1962-1964. She received her Ph.D. in Geography from Boston University in 1971.

Concurrent with her studies, Sr. Ruth was assigned to administrative and teaching positions at Maryknoll’s Rogers College. In 1967, she was Vice-President of Rogers College and then became President in 1968 until its closure in 1973. She was also active in Maryknoll Sisters community life, serving as a Delegate at the 1968 Chapter, a member of the Center Board from 1971-1973, and Chair of the Center Board from 1973-1975.

In 1975, Sister Ruth was assigned to Sudan. She helped establish a national center for pastoral, liturgical, and catechetical training. It became PALICA National Center where Sister Ruth worked until 1989. From 1989-1992, she taught at and was a staff member of Munuki Major Seminary in Juba. From 1993-1996, she was on the administration staff of the Maryknoll Sisters World Section House in Nairobi, Kenya. Sr. Ruth returned to Sudan in 1997-1998 where she taught in the local primary school and aided in revitalizing a women’s center in Chukudum.  In 1999, she moved to Nairobi, Kenya where she worked part-time at the Diocesan office until 2004.  During her time in Sudan and Kenya, Sr. Ruth did the finances for the Maryknoll Sisters’ Sudan Region, helped the Tanzania Region, and kept the financial accounts of the Africa World Section House until 2006.

In 2007, Sister Ruth left Africa and was assigned to the Western U.S. Region. She lived in Walnut Creek, CA, where she volunteered her services by visiting women in prison, a Catholic Charities Program, as well as in a new project for returning veterans.  She was also invited to give talks about Africa at the local Christ the King Parish until 2014.

In 2015, Sister returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to retire.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Ruth on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.