Reverend Norman Clarence Ruffing

Father Norman C. Ruffing, of Pinole and Willits, California, passed away at age 90 on March 10, 2026.

He was the son of the late Aloysius Peter and Anna Catherine (Wise) Ruffing, of Norwich Township and Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio. He is survived by his beloved twin brother, Norbert (Mary), his dear friend Sonny Jordan (Sally, deceased), and by many loving nieces, nephews, friends, and former parishioners. He was preceded in death by six of his seven siblings and their spouses: Mary (Clyde) Rekart; Father Joseph; Dorothy (John) Wagener; Robert (Doris); Sister Mildred, H.M.; and Florence.

Norman was ordained as a Divine Word Missionary on February 2, 1963. He served in Rome before returning to the United States to take up residence in California as a diocesan priest in the Diocese of Oakland, where he served parishes in Lafayette (St. Perpetua), Hayward (All Saints), Oakland (St. Cyril of Jerusalem), Fremont (St. Leonard), and Pinole (St. Joseph). In his retirement, he served as a substitute priest at St. Francis Chapel, Hopland, in the Diocese of Santa Rosa.

In paradisum deducant te Angeli.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 – 10:00 AM on Thursday March 26, 2026, at Saint Clement's Church, 750 Calhoun Street, Hayward CA 94544, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery & Funeral Center, 26320 Mission Boulevard, Hayward, California 94544.

Arrangements were handled by Holy Sepulchre Cemetery & Funeral Center.