SISTER RUTH (BERNETTE) ELSBERND of Clare House, Dubuque, Iowa, passed away at 2:42 PM,  Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at Clare House.

The Remembering Service and Rite of Final Committal will be held at the Clare House Chapel, Mount St. Francis Center at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15, 2024 followed by burial at the Sisters of St. Francis natural burial site. A Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 25, 2024 at the Clare House Chapel, Mount St. Francis Center. The livestream of both services can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/dubuquefranciscans.

Sister Ruth was born March 19, 1927 in Festina, IA, the daughter of John and Martha (Kuennen) Elsbernd.

Sister Ruth entered the Sisters of St. Francis August 25, 1945 and made final profession of vows August 12, 1951. Sister received her MS in Physical Science from Kansas State Teachers College, Kansas City, KS in 1971. She ministered as an educator in Iowa at Remsen, Mapleton, Larchwood, Granville, Ossian, Eldridge, Clarinda, Calmar, Cresco, Sherrill, NITI, Peosta, and in Dubuque at Sacred Heart and Wahlert High School. She also served in Midlothian, IL, Cumberland, RI, Cuba City, WI, St. Cloud, MN and Xavier Hospital and Mount St. Francis Center, both in Dubuque.

Sister is survived by her sister Colette Kuhn, nieces and nephews, and her Franciscan sisters.

Sister was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Jerome (Luella) Elsbernd, Arnold (Helen) Elsbernd, Roger (Gladys) Elsbernd, and Joseph Elsbernd; and brother-in-law Anthony Kuhn.

The Sisters of St. Francis express their thanks to Hospice of Dubuque for their care and concern.

Memorials may be given to the Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, IA.

Miller Funeral Home of East Dubuque is in charge of arrangements.