Colleen M. Ruede
June 20, 1927 ~ December 5, 2009
Resided in:
Pueblo, CO
Colleen M. Ruede - Fifty-two year resident of Pueblo, Colo., passed away on Saturday, December 5, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Gifford A. Ruede; her parents, Walter and Ruth Pavela; and her sister and her husband, Beverly and Paul Steiling. She is survived by six children, Robyn (Vince) Caponi, Mary Terry (Roger) Greer, Pamela (Rocky) Levkulich; Joseph (Susanne) Ruede; Linda (Jeff) Metz; and Bill (Tammy) Ruede; twelve grandchildren: Gina (Gary) Parnaby, Kristen (Ryan) Darmody, Cara Caponi, Byron (Courtney) Levkulich, Christopher Levkulich, Tracy Greer (Jacob Pomrenke), Michael Greer, Sean Freeman, Jessie Freeman, Kahlie Metz, Jennifer Ruede and Kristen Ruede; and four great-grandchildren: Elizabeth and William Parnaby, Lucy Darmody, and Caitlin Levkulich. Colleen's passions in life were her family, her Catholicism, and her interests in art and animals. She was a long-time and active member of Christ the King Parish before moving to Our Lady of the Meadows Parish. She insured that her children receive a Catholic education until the schools were closed in 1971. She was active in the arts community of Pueblo, working at the Colorado State Fair Fine Arts exhibit for years, serving as an Artist in Residence for Pueblo Public Schools, teaching art at Roncalli High School and participating in various local shows and arts events. Most recently, she was a member of the Pueblo Watercolor Society and Alpha Mu Delta, an arts sorority, and volunteered her time yearly to help with the Channel 8 Art Auction. Her artistic honors include being named Artist of the Year in 2003 by the Pueblo Arts Council, and being a recognized artist for the recent Our Lady of the Meadows Art Show. She was an ardent supporter of the Carousel project at Pueblo City Park. Colleen was also a volunteer and docent at Pueblo City Park Zoo and spent countless hours teaching children's art and working at the gift store there. Colleen was also an active member of two weekly bridge groups and played an excellent game of Scrabble. The family would like to thank her doctors and the staff at Parkview Medical Center for all of their care and support. They invite friends and acquaintances to a celebration of Colleen's life at 6 p.m. with a Vigil Service and Rosary to follow at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8, in the Montgomery & Steward Chapel. Funeral Mass, 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 9, at Our Lady of the Meadows Catholic Church, 23 Starling Dr., with the Reverend Father Jean-Marie Mondji as celebrant. Internment will take place at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Denver, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Little Sisters of the Poor, Sisters of Charity, BVM, or Pueblo Zoological Society through Montgomery & Steward Funeral Directors, 1317 N. Main St., Pueblo, Colo. 81003. Online condolences, MontgomerySteward.com
Dear Ruede second cousins,
I’m sorry to read of your dear Mother’s death.
Please get in touch with your McLane cousins. We’d love to stay connected.
Love, Charlotte Mates
(801)8704062
Colleen was a loyal, dear friend who could be depended on to share joy or sorrow. If I had another sister I would have wanted her to be just like Colleen. I pray dailly for the repose of her soul and for strength for each of you. Many blessings and rainbows.
Linda, I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I do have great memories from our grade school years. I hope happy memories will see you and your family thru this sad time.
Lynn (iten) Daum
Colleen
Go in peace faithful friend of God,
Take our love with you into paradise,
God’s holy angels will lead you home,
In to the warm, waiting arms of our God
Pam and family
So sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the service and share your sorrow.
Suzanne (Verstraete)
I was saddened to read that Colleen had passed away. I worked with her at KTSC-TV for the auction, she taught me so much about art. She was a joy to work with and I will miss her greatly!
I only recently became aquainted with Colleen through Alpha Mu Delta. What a wonderful artist and beautiful soul. I am sorry that I did not have more time to get to know her better. She deeply touched me and inspired me with her class and grace. My deepest sympathy. I will surely miss her.
All of us in the O’Brien family will miss Colleen and we pray for her soul and know she is with God as this is written. She was a wonderful woman who raised a great family! God Bless all of your families.
Colleen was such a wonderful person. I did not spend as much time with her as I would have liked. Even though we were not blood related, she was the closet thing to a grandma I had. When Joe and my mom divorced, she still let me be a part of her life. I know she is in a better place now and I am thankful for having the time I did with her in my life. My prayers are with all of her family and friends.
My prayers are with you. I enjoyed many hours of art and friendship with your mom. She was a great person.
Robyn and family,
I wish I could be with you and see you through all this. Your mom sounds like a gracious and talented woman. My prayers are with you. God is with you. Your mom is with you too!
Suzanne
We are so sorry for your loss, know that all of you are in our prayers.
Robyn, Vince, and the entire Ruede and Caponi families:
It was our great privilege and pleasure to have known Colleen for all these years – from the Mount Saint Joe years right up through the present.
Instead of “May she rest in peace”, the Irish say “Ar dheis De go raibh a anam”, which is Gaelic for “May her soul be at God’s right hand.” We have no doubt that that is where Colleen now is.
Again, our heartfelt condolences to the entire family.
Bob & Jane Neville
Dear family of Colleen:
I had the pleasure of knowing your mom while she was a docent at the Pueblo zoo. I always tried to observe her approach and methods of teaching with the children. She was a very special lady, and she definitely made a difference while she was in this world. May the Lord bring His comfort and peace to all of you.
Bill & Family, So sorry to hear about the passing of your Mom. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.
Lee and Pam Warfield
Mary: I am so sorry about your mom. What a lovely lady. She was always so good to me. I will remember her kindness.
Georgine