Ronald J. Ruthowski

Father Ronald J. Rutkowski, retired priest of the Diocese of Greensburg, dies at 82

MERCER — Father Ronald J. Rutkowski, a retired priest of the Diocese of Greensburg, died November 24, 2019, at the Avalon Springs Place, Mercer, Pa. He was 82 and had been a priest for 50 years.

A son of the late Joseph W. and Helen (Szalecki) Rutkowski, Father Rutkowski was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. 14, 1937, and attended Catholic elementary school and high school there.

He received bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and history from St. Mary College, Orchard Lake, Mich., and a master’s degree in theology from SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake.

Father Rutkowski was ordained to the priesthood May 10, 1969, at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Greensburg, Pa by Bishop William G. Connare.

He served as parochial vicar of St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish, New Kensington (1969-71); the former St. Leonard Parish, Monessen (1971-74); Holy Family Parish, Latrobe (1974-76); and St. Mary (Nativity) Parish, Uniontown, and its former chapel in Lemont Furnace (1976-78).

He served as pastor of the former St. Mary, Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Parker (1978-87), and the former Madonna of Czestochowa Parish, Cardale, and its former chapel in Palmer (1987-2002).

Father Rutkowski retired from active ministry April 1, 2003.

Visitation will be from 1– 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27, 2019 in the Parlor of Christ Our Shepherd Center, 2900 Seminary Dr1ve Greensburg, PA.  The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday in St. Joseph Chapel at Christ our Shepard Center.  Interment will follow in Ohio on Friday.

Father Rutkowski’s professional funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Kish-Fabry Funeral Home, Inc., 19 Legion Street, Republic, PA.