Sr. Shirley Ruder, OP, formerly known as Sr. Marie Alexius Ruder, died Aug. 2 at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian. She was 87 and in the 68th year  of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sr. Ruder was born in Detroit to Joseph and Theckla (Braun) Ruder. Sister graduated from St. Theresa High School in Detroit and received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian and a Master of Education degree from the University of Detroit.

Sister spent 25 years ministering in education in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. In Michigan, she taught at Our Lady of Sorrows, Farmington (1959-62); St. Brigid, Detroit (1969-70); and St. Alphonsus, Dearborn (1970-71). She was also principal for four years at St. Scholastica School in Detroit, and three years at Guardian Angels School in Clawson.

In 1974, Sister began her work in health care. She was an LPN at the Maria Health Care (Dominican Life) Center in Adrian from 1974-77, and returned to the Dominican Life Center in Adrian from 1985-88 in the capacity of coordinator of pastoral care. She was an office nurse from 1977-78 at Sebewaing Medical Clinic in Sebewaing. She worked with the Community Living Centers in Farmington, where she was the medical appointment coordinator from 1978-79, house manager from 1979-85, and group home manager from 1988-94. She served at St. Maurice Parish in Livonia for one year in home health care, and for one year was assistant group home manager at Wagner House in Farmington. Sister became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in Adrian in 1996.

Sr. Ruder is survived by a sister, Rosemarie McDevitt of Bradenton, Fla., and a cousin, Sr. Anne Bernadette Stein, an Adrian Dominican sister. She was preceded in death by two cousins, Sr. Coronata Stein and Sr. Marie Elizabeth Doherty, both Adrian Dominican sisters.

The funeral liturgy was offered in St. Catherine Chapel on Aug. 6. Burial will be in the Congregation cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221.