Cecelia M. Ruppert

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Cecelia M. Ruppert, age 110, of Pinckneyville, IL was fortified with sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Sunday, August 31, 2008.

Cecelia was born on August 17, 1898 in Pinckneyville, IL, a daughter to the late George and Louise (Schneider) Ruppert. She attended St. Bruno Elementary School and studied music with her piano teacher, Mrs. Hawkins. She and her sister Magdalen often played duets together. She worked at A.W. McCant's General store. At the age of 21, she studied bookkeeping at Brown's Business College and Washington University in St. Louis, MO. She began her career working in the offices at the Claridge Hotel in St. Louis, MO while attending evening classes. She was promoted to the LeClaire Hotel in Moline IL as an auditor and later to the Claridge Hotel in Memphis TN. until her retirements at age 65. After retiring, she was the auditor for the Chisca Plaza Hotel until age 75. She then returned to the family home on Mulberry Street in Pinckneyville, IL, where she resided until well into her nineties. She resided at Perry Manor and later at Pinckneyville Community Skilled Care. She recently celebrated her 110th birthday.

Cecelia was a religious instructor to children in the Italian Hill neighborhood in St. Louis, MO., a member of the Women's Catholic Business League, Memphis, TN, and volunteered at St. Peters Catholic Church, Memphis, TN as a bookkeeper.

She is survived be her sister: Cmdr. Margaret R. Ruppert, USN, retired and many dear nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers: Charles, George, Jr., Albert L., William C. and Joseph, and one sister: Magdalen Mann.

Mass of the resurrection will be at St. Bruno Catholic Church, Pinckneyville, IL on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. with Father Brian Barker officiating. Interment will be in St. Bruno Catholic Cemetery, Pinckneyville, IL

Friends may call at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL on Saturday, September 6, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. The Rosary will be recited at 9:00 a.m.

Memorials may be made to Albert L. Ruppert Memorial Tuition Fund for St. Bruno Elementary School.

For more information or to sign an online guest register, please visit www.pyattfuneralhome.com.