Colleen Ruppert, remembered as the first person with Down syndrome to serve as a parish Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, died on May 26, just before her 62nd birthday. Her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at her parish, the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, D.C. on June 2.
Msgr. John Enzler, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities in the archdiocese, celebrated the Mass and spoke affectionately of Ruppert.
“Sadness, sorrow, also gratitude for our loved one, also sadness for her leaving us, and joy, I think, in knowing that your loving sister is back with mom and dad,” Msgr. Enzler said. “I encourage you to say a prayer to Colleen, not for her, but to her, as she’s with God who shares the gifts you need.”
Colleen Ruppert was the daughter of the late Carl and the late Antoinette Ruppert.
In an email to the Catholic Standard, Mary O’Meara, the executive director of the archdiocese’s Office of Deaf and Disabilities Ministry, said, “Colleen and her family have been a cornerstone family for decades in the formation in the formation of disability ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington.”
She said Colleen Ruppert was a self-advocate and volunteered for many years in the archdiocese’s Office for Persons with Disabilities, assisting Dolores Wilson, who was the first person to head that office.
Ruppert was involved with Best Buddies throughout her life, where she made many friends and attended their sponsored events.
Craig Ruppert, one of her brothers, spoke after Communion, saying Colleen’s warmth, openness, care for others, and sense of humor left an impression on everyone.
“I suspect that Colleen is looking down on us and glad to see us all here, and she’s also glad to be reunited with mom and dad, they were her best friends and she was theirs, it should comfort us all to know that they’re all together again,” Craig said.
Carl and Antoinette Ruppert encouraged their daughter to live independently. Carl Ruppert served as a consultant on architectural accessibility at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Colleen Ruppert is survived by seven siblings: Caryl Ersenkal, Carl Ruppert (Jackie), Christopher Ruppert, Craig Ruppert (Pat), Catherine Ruppert, Christine Ruppert and Curtis Ruppert (Donna). She is also survived by her 16 nieces and nephews, as well as her 18 great nieces and nephews.
“She rarely missed a family event, from birthdays, baptisms to confirmations and weddings…she really enjoyed birthdays and she brought a special energy and fun to those events,” Craig Ruppert said.
Ruppert listed his sister’s productive professional life as well. She worked in the U.S. Government Printing Office in the mailroom for 32 years. “She sorted mail, delivered mail, and was very proud to have her own computer – in the early days of computers,” Ruppert said.
He added, “She never missed Mass on Sunday, and as Father (Msgr. Enzler) mentioned, she sat right there in front, she was a very dependable choir member and a Eucharistic minister, (and) she served on the board of the Potomac Community Resources.”
Instead of flowers, it was requested that donations be sent to the Bethlehem House Foundation, which was co-founded by Dolores Wilson and where Ruppert was one of the first residents.
