Catherine Elizabeth Rutledge

Catherine E. Rutledge, 84, of Savoy passed away at 9:15 a.m. on Monday, May 13, 2019 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Urbana. Father Luke Spannagel will officiate; the Mass will be concelebrated by Father Hennessy and Father Royer. Burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Champaign. A visitation will be held prior to the funeral from 9:00-10:00 a.m., at the church.

Cathy was born in Cumberland, MD on November 25, 1934, the sixth of eight children, to parents Thomas A. and Rosella C. (Finan) Dougherty. They preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death was her daughter Marianne Rutledge-Jones and six siblings. In 1958 she married Albert Rutledge, he passed away in 2001.

She is survived by her children; Eileen (Jean-Philippe) Mathy of Champaign, John Rutledge (Stacey) of Tampa, Steve Rutledge (Sarah) of Champaign, twenty grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Her sister Angela Dougherty (Sister Mary Ellen) of Baltimore also survives her.

She graduated in 1955 from Sacred Heart Hospital School of Nursing, Cumberland, MD and in 1958 from American University, Washington, D.C.  While attending A.U., she was a staff nurse at Children’s Hospital in D.C.

Moving to the C-U area in 1962 she became involved in the community and her parish, St. Patrick Church, Urbana. She worked to establish Frances Nelson Health Center while working first as a school nurse with Urbana School District #116 and later as a nurse for the county’s first Head Start Program. Later she joined the nursing staff at Champaign Country Nursing Home as a rehab nurse but soon focused on the care of dementia residents. Catherine then moved over as the Adult Day Care Center director, where she established the county’s first Alzheimer’s Family Support Group week-end respite program, residential dementia unit and with the support group, the Eastern Illinois Alzheimer’s Association Chapter. While directing the A.D.C she was also designated as an adjunct professor at the U of I for eight years, dedicated to teaching and training of interns from various departments.

At St. Patrick Church Cathy served on the education committee, parish council, was a trustee for four years and after retirement a Eucharist minister to the shut-ins.

Cathy enjoyed traveling both abroad and in the states, volunteering at Catholic Worker House soup kitchen, 10,000 villages, Champaign Nursing Home and spending time with her children, grandchildren and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Society, Developmental Services Center or to St. Patrick Church.

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