04/09/2026
Meet Ms. Ruth!
Raised in Lafayette, Ms. Ruth built a life centered on faith, family, and caring for others. A mother of six, grandmother of sixteen, and great-grandmother to more than twenty, her greatest pride has always been the people she loves. In the 1950s, she worked as a registered nurse at Charity Hospital, where she discovered her calling in hospice care. Ms. Ruth believes hospice is often misunderstood; what she remembers most are the sacred moments spent sitting with families, praying, talking, and simply being present when it mattered most.
Ms. Ruth shared 64 years with the love of her life, a kind and gentle man she still misses deeply. Together they traveled the world, making memories from Spain to Naples where her Navy son and his family lived at one time.
Today at Southwind, Ms. Ruth enjoys playing games, building Lego flowers, and spending time with other residents and employees she considers family. Ms. Ruth says she chose Southwind because it’s friendly and full of kind people, and she proudly says she’s “adopted” our administrator Mr. Jerad because she sees how well he cares for everyone.
When asked what advice she would give new nurses, Ms. Ruth didn’t hesitate: “Know your residents. Love what you do. Be kind and loving. And don’t be afraid to hug.”
Her one wish still on the list? Riding in a hot air balloon… even if she’s very afraid of heights.
