SINSINAWA — Sister Ruth Poochigian, OP, died Oct. 22, 2021, at St. Elizabeth Manor, Footville, Wis. Natural burial took place Oct. 25 in the Motherhouse Cemetery, Sinsinawa, Wis. The funeral Mass was held at the motherhouse, Sinsinawa Oct. 27.
Sister Ruth made her first profession as a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa Dec. 16, 1972, and her perpetual profession April 3, 1976. She taught for 13 years and ministered in multiple ways with adult faith formation for 19 years. Sister Ruth served as fundraiser and public relations staff for two years, chaplain for two years, and pastoral minister for eight years. She was faithful to relationships and committed to community. Sister Ruth sought the truth and extended mercy to others. She served in California, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa.
In the Diocese of Madison, Sister Ruth had several ministries in Madison, including teaching at Edgewood High School, 1972-1983, and serving as coordinator of vocation ministry for the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 2001-2006; as fundraising and public relations staff at Catholic Extension, 2006-2008; chaplain at Meriter Hospital, 2009-2011; and pastoral minister with the Prison Ministry Project, 2011-2016, where she continued to volunteer until 2019.
Sister Ruth was born Feb. 23, 1946, in Los Angeles, the daughter of Paul and Dorothy (Shamdanjian) Poochigian. Her parents and a sister, Janice Oetken, preceded her in death. She is survived by a brother, Earnest Poochigian; a niece; a nephew; and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared 48 years of religious life.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or at www.sinsinawa.org/donate online.
Repeat broadcasts of the wake and funeral for Sister Ruth are available online at www.sinsinawa.org/live. Click on the “on demand” tab.