Jubilarian 2021 - Sister Ruth La Var

Sister Ruth La Var was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1945 and was received into the novitiate in 1946 as Sister James Henri. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Fontbonne College in 1958 and a master’s degree in education from Saint Louis University in 1969.

For 40 years, Sister Ruth served in education as grade school teacher, administrator and consultant.

Her first assignment was in 1948 at St. Francis de Sales in Denver, Colorado. In the 1950s, she taught at Little Flower Grade School in Mobile, Alabama; St. Viator in Chicago; and St. Mary in Bridgeton, Missouri. She taught at St. Patrick Grade School in St. Joseph, Missouri (1958-63), and then at St. Louis Grade School in Englewood, Colorado (1963-68).

Returning to St. Louis, Sister Ruth taught at St. Genevieve du Bois Grade School (1969-1971) and served as principal at Immacolata Grade School (1971-1975). She served as an educational consultant for the Catholic Education Office of the Archdiocese of St. Louis as well.

After a sabbatical in 1980, she served her CSJ community as director of personnel at the St. Joseph Provincial House. She was also the executive director of residence at DuBourg House for senior care in St. Louis.

In 1986, Sister Ruth returned to education, serving four years as administrator at Linda Vista Montessori School in St. Louis. She retired in 1990 while continuing to do volunteer work.

In 2014, Sister Ruth moved to Nazareth Living Center, then to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2018. Since 2019, she has resided in St. Louis where she continues to carry out her ministry of prayer and presence.