Sister Ruth Hayden

Sister Ruth Hayden, RSM (Mary Ruth), 84
     PORTLAND -- Sister Ruth Hayden, RSM (Mary Ruth), 84, a gracious, passionate, religious
    woman, who filled the room with laughter and love died peacefully at St. Joseph's Manor on Friday, July 13, 2007, after a long illness.
     A native of Portland, Sister Ruth was educated within the parochial school system which included Kavanagh Elementary and Cathedral High School. She entered the Sisters of Mercy from the Cathedral Parish, Portland in 1941. Sister Ruth continued her education at St. Joseph's College, Standish and UMO earning a masters degree in Education. She furthered her studies in Early Childhood Education at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana and studied Early Childhood Education focusing on Montessori, in England and Ireland.
     Her ministry in education included assignments at St. Athanasius, Rumford, St. Dominic's and St. Joseph's Academy, Portland, St. Mary's Augusta, and Orono, St. John's, Bangor, St. Patrick's Lewiston, and Immaculate Conception, Calais and at Peter Dana Point, Indian Township.
     Sister Ruth was involved with the Model city Experimental Education program that was housed in St. Dominic's School and became its Director for four years. Sister was appointed a faculty member and chair at St. Joseph's College in the Department of Education. She worked with the State of Maine to future enhance the Education Department curriculum. Her talents were then sought by two other creative Sisters in helping them form a new way of providing training for Religious Education teachers throughout the State of Maine. The program was entitled, Mercy Life, with its home base in Portland. This program, which included coordinator training, on- going education for catechists, and pre-sacramental preparation became the precursor of the current Diocesan Office of Catechetics Resource positions, which she was invited to lead for Region 1V.
     For several summers Sister Ruth wrote and lead summer Bible schools in rural Maine. Again, Sister Ruth was sought to bring a presence that only she could do to the people of St. Bartholomew's Parish, Cape Elizabeth. She considered her time in this ministry as the frosting on the cake of years of service to God's beautiful people. Sister also served on the Diocesan Catechetical Ministry Board and the education committee of the Maine Council of Churches.
     Another level of caring for all she met became evident to all she met when, while struggling with Alzheimer's disease she tried to reach out and comfort those in need.
     She was predeceased by her parents, Daniel John and Margaret Donahue Hayden; and her siblings, Helen Hayden Joyce and Peter Hayden. She is survived by loving family: her sisters, Jean Hayden Sullivan and Margaret Hayden O'Donnell; and her brothers, John, Robert and Daniel; as well as her Sisters in community. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews.
     Visiting hours will be at St. Joseph's Convent, 605 Stevens Ave., Portland, on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. Her concelebrated funeral Mass will be on Monday at 4:30 p.m. in the Chapel. Burial will be in New Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State St., Portland. On-line condolences may be sent to www.ctcrawford.com.
     Memorial gifts may be made to: The Sisters of Mercy
     605 Stevens Ave.
    Portland, Maine 04103
    or Catherine McAuley High School
     631 Stevens Ave.
     Portland, Maine 04103
    Sister Ruth Hayden, RSM (Mary Ruth)