09/01/2026
Remembering Maria Assumpta Ruza, SSJ
Maria Assumpta Ruza, SSJ, 89, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on August 31, 2026 in the 70th year of her religious life. She was born in Erie, PA, on August 24, 1937, the daughter of the late Stephen and Anna Ruza. Sister Maria Assumpta entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on August 31, 1955, and professed her final vows on August 15, 1961.
She attended Holy Family Elementary School and graduated from Villa Maria Academy in 1955. She then received a BS in Elementary Education in 1968 from Villa Maria College.
Sister Maria Assumpta Ruza volunteered at Multi-Cultural Health Evaluation Delivery System (MHEDS), a joint project of the Diocesan Mission Office and the Erie Council of Churches that assists medically underserved neighbors in northwest Pennsylvania. She ministered as a teacher at Our Lady of Peace School in Erie. She also taught at St. Agatha School in Meadville, Pennsylvania; St. Leo School in Ridgway, Pennsylvania; St. Mary’s School in Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania; and taught CCD at St. Francis in Bradford, Pennsylvania. She also ministered at Sisters of St. Joseph Rosary Hall as a Nurse Aide from 1975-1976 and worked as a Communications Department Aide at Villa Maria College from 1977-1980. She was Assistant Sacristan at the sisters’ motherhouse near downtown Erie and at the sisters’ Community Living Center in Millcreek for more than 25 years. She was involved in religious education at St. Francis Parish in Bradford and was a supervisor in religious education for several parishes in Houtzdale, Pennsylvania.
Sr. Maria Assumpta knew since the second grade at Holy Family School that she wanted to be a Sister. “The prayerfulness of the Franciscan Sisters in our school always impressed me, she recalled at one point. “My 8th-grade teacher, Sister Agnes, OSF, told me I had the qualities to be a good sister.”
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Betty Ruza, SSJ, and Agnes Priscaro, an SSJ Associate. She is survived by her nephews, Fr. Jerry Priscaro, Mark Priscaro, and Jon Priscaro, and her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Friends may call at the Sisters of St. Joseph Community Living Center, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, on Thursday, September 3, beginning at 1:00 p.m. with prayer and sharing of memories. Calling hours will continue until 3:50 p.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 4:00 p.m. The Mass will be livestreamed on the Sisters of St. Joseph YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/SSJErie/live, with the interment at Calvary Cemetery. The Brugger Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Mission & Ministries Foundation, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA, 16506-1249. The Brugger Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
“One thing I ask of the Lord, this I seek: To dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life.” Psalm 27:4 - Favorite Scripture
