Dear Parishioners,
It is with sadness that to communicate to you the death of two sisters of one of our parishioners, Regina Austermann. I would kindly ask you to pray for the response of the soul of Colonel Jeanne Marie Rueth and Virginia Mary Wurthmann and for their families, that are mourning this great loss.
Their funeral will be celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica this coming Wednesday, 22 March, 9:30 am.
Colonel Jeanne Marie Rueth
Colonel (Retired) Jeanne Marie Rueth, U.S. Air Force, of St. Louis Missouri, died on 11 March, 2023. She was born on 24 June, 1950 to Henry and Helen Wurthmann, received her bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Mary in 1971, her master’s degree from Auburn University in 1977, and her law and doctorate degrees from St. Louis University in 1975 and 1984 respectively. She is survived by her children Eileen and Dan, her siblings Rosemary, Regina, Susan, Henry, Colleen, Elizabeth, and Mellissa, as well as her grandchildren Lydia, Josh, Max, and Maureen.
Jena grew up as an Air Force child, accompanying her family on assignments from Oklahoma to Omaha, Bermuda, and beyond. Her intelligence and natural leadership skills - coupled with a sense of adventure and patriotism - led her to a trailblazing career as an Air Force Judge Advocate General. She raised two children in four different countries, embracing the mantra that, “I'll go anywhere I'm needed. But given the option, I want to be in charge.” The Air Force always needed her, and often put her in charge.
She was a devoted mother who shared her time generously with her children, helping them nurture and navigate meaningful relationships and careers. She was always willing to share her strong and informed opinions, but derived her greatest joys from stepping back to see where personal conviction and fate might take her loved ones. She was the best “Baba” imaginable to her four grandchildren, and loved to organize international trips for each member of her vast network of friends, siblings, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. She tailored each expedition to the unique interests of the person she accompanied. And while she encouraged her travel partners to think without limits, she was not above putting her thumb on the scale so that they could go somewhere new to her.
She died alongside her sister and fellow airman Virginia Wurthmann, sadly before taking her cherished grandchildren on their worldwide voyages. By that point, she had marked Mongolia, Finland, Rwanda, Antarctica, Guatemala, Jordan, and dozens of others off the list, and no doubt had others on deck. Thankfully, Jena planted her love of history, exploration, and companionship so deeply in the family soil that succeeding generations will have no trouble deciding where they might go and what they might discover.
SERVICE: Memorial services are open to the public, beginning with a Visitation at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Tuesday, 21 March. Funeral Mass, Wednesday, 22 March, 9:30 am at The Cathedral Basilica, 4431 Lindell Blvd.; 63108. With interment to follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her name to either Court Appointed Special Advocates of St. Louis (stlcasa.org) or The Sierra Club (sierraclub.org).
Virginia Mary Wurthmann
Virginia Mary Wurthmann passed away unexpectedly on March 11, 2023.
Virginia was a devoted daughter to her parents, Henry C Wurthmann Jr and Helen (Shine) Wurthmann, as well as a beloved sister to eight siblings. She was born on February 18, 1958 in Bermuda, and grew up as the child of an Air Force officer, living in Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and St Louis. Virginia attended St Francis de Sales High School and graduated from St Elizabeth Academy. Attending the University of Missouri St Louis on scholarship, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology before moving on to a career in the US Air Force. She attained the rank of Captain and served with distinction in numerous locations, including Panama, Germany and Operation Desert Storm before leaving the Air Force and moving on to new pursuits. She continued to travel extensively in the US, Europe, China, Turkey, Egypt and many other places.
Virginia was a voracious reader and an avid historian, and also had particular interests in Astronomy and Geology. A dedicated hockey fan, she was always cheering for the St Louis Blues. Virginia was a devoted and loving caregiver to her parents and to two generations of nieces and nephews.
SERVICE: Memorial services are open to the public, beginning with a Visitation at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Tuesday, 21 March. Funeral Mass, Wednesday, 22 March, 9:30 am at The Cathedral Basilica, 4431 Lindell Blvd.; 63108. With interment to follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.