Ruth Westrich

Ruth E. Westrich, 91, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center.

She was born March 6, 1923, in Oran, Missouri, to Elmer and Getty Ann Joyce.

She and Jerome F. Westrich were married Wednesday, May 25, 1938, in Oran. He preceded her in death May 15, 2009.

Ruth and her family moved to Cape Girardeau from Oran in 1949.

She was a member of St. Mary Cathedral. She volunteered at Saint Francis Medical Center 30 years, actually beginning her volunteer service at the old Saint Francis Hospital.

She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her family was her life.

Survivors include one son, Larry (Stephanie) Westrich of Cape Girardeau; four daughters, Glenda (Ben) Bollinger of Cape Girardeau, Carolyn [LTG (R) Clyde] Vaughn of Winchester, Virginia, Clara (Pat) Scherer of Portageville, Missouri, and Vicki (Bob) Sledge of Centralia, Illinois; 17 grandchildren, Sharon (Cliff) Simmons, Peggy (Gary) Garner, Gerri Bollinger, Carla (Marty) Pope, Kristi (Bob) Meltvedt, Chad (Jennifer) Vaughn, Todd (Judy) Scherer, Niki Armstrong, Travis (Luella) Scherer, Danny Scherer, Marci (Ben) Ceglinski, Andy (Amy) Lankheit, David Lankheit, Kaci Westrich, Austin Westrich, Jessica Westrich and Connor Westrich; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; infant son, William F. Westrich; brother, Jake Joyce; and five sisters, Zelma Clubb, Hazel Clubb, Hettie Daugherty, Colleene Bollinger and Juanita Laughlin.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary Cathedral in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Allan Saunders officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or St. Mary Cathedral Building Fund, 615 William St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63703.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.