Ruth Marie Homan, 84, of Longmont passed away peacefully on October 10th, 2024. She was born on February 24th, 1940, in Cincinnati, OH to the late Edward and Mary (Engeln) Homan.
Ruth spent her childhood on the banks of the Ohio River. As an only child, she made many friends in her neighborhood and spent her formative years climbing trees, playing baseball, swimming in the community pool and swinging on barge ropes from trees out over the river. Ruth began to learn to play the piano and organ in the 3rd grade, which eventually landed her a job as the organist in her church parish that lasted through high school. Music remained a constant for her throughout her life.
After a successful career at St. Mary High School, where she was class president, prom queen and involved in many clubs and sports, she graduated in 1958. After graduation, she decided to enter the convent of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and attended the college of Mount Saint Joseph. She graduated in 1962 with a B.A. in Mathematics. She spent the next 15 years teaching high school mathematics, continuing her commitment to the Sisters of Charity and attending the University of Notre Dame, where she earned her M.A. in education and mathematics in 1971. She then left Ohio to live in Albuquerque, NM for four years and eventually moved to Denver, CO to teach.
Ruth had such a profound effect on a great number of students and families during her many years of teaching. Not only in the classroom but also on a personal level and during the many trips and adventures that she took with students to places like the Grand Canyon, Italy and Japan.
Once in Denver, she made the tough but inevitable decision to leave the Sisters of Charity. While spending some time on self-reflection and contemplating her next life steps, she attended a dinner party of a dear friend and met the man who would change it all. She and Jack Wolfe began dating and quickly realized that theirs was a forever kind of love. They married a short seven months later, on New Year’s Eve of 1977. They remained devoted partners and best friends throughout their 46-year marriage. Their love, respect and kindness toward one another was an incredible example to all who witnessed it.
As their relationship and love for one another deepened, they decided to start a family. They adopted their two children, Beth and Gabe, in 1981 and 1984. They moved from Denver to Northern Colorado and Ruth began working at the Dawson School in Lafayette, CO, where she worked for the last 23 years of her career.
Ruth’s fun loving and silly nature was infectious and drew people to her. When those same people realized how genuinely authentic she was, they stuck around and became lifelong friends. She made friends easily, everywhere she went. Although she was always surrounded by wonderful people, she was closer to none more than her children and grandchildren. She was an exceptional mother and grandmother, which was evident in the end, as she was surrounded by them almost constantly for the last two weeks of her life.
Ruth’s life changed with her dementia and eventual Alzheimer’s diagnosis nearly 15 years ago, but even as her cognition began to slowly fade, she still had the ability to absolutely light up a room with her sincere smile. The sound of her laugh was infectious and there was no better feeling than being on the receiving end of one of her belly laughing fits. You couldn’t help but laugh along with her, tears of joy streaming down both faces.
Along with her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jack Wolfe.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter Beth (Seth) Haley; son Gabriel Wolfe; 8 grandchildren: Mariah Felan Wolfe, Gabriel D. Wolfe, Malachi Warrilow; Charlotte and Bennett Gagne and John, Colin and Emerson Haley
A Celebration of Life Mass will take place on Friday, November 15th at 10:00 AM at Light of Christ ECC Church, 1000 W 15th Avenue, Longmont, CO followed by a luncheon. Please wear your most colorful and joyful outfits to the service. Please also bring any kind of noise maker (i.e. bells, maracas, tambourines, etc.). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Light of Christ ECC or to A Day Place in Longmont, CO.
I was so fortunate to know Ruth as a colleague at Dawson School. My heartfelt condolences to Beth and her family. She will be missed.
Ruth and I shared an office during my years at Dawson. Lucky me! She was a great mentor and dear friend
Cheers to you Beth and Gabe. Your mother was awesome.
Francie Yeager
Rest in peace Ruth. I’m sure you and Evelyn Hutchison Moore (my mom) had such a wonderful reunion in heaven. My mother loved you dearly from childhood through adulthood. I am grateful my family was blessed to meet you and your husband when we visited Colorado. My mother spoke of you often and cherished your friendship. God bless you and your family.
Ruth was a cherished colleague and friend through our time together at Dawson. I’ll never forget out trip to Kagoshima Japan.
That was a beautiful obituary that highlighted and capture the very best of Ruth. I considered her a very dear friend and will miss her greatly.
Ruth and Jack were core members of our monthly bell ringing service at LOC. By ringing the bell at 11:00 AM they acknowledged that the warming climate was a signal that humans were damaging the planet. They believed that, for the sake of our children/grandchildren, we all needed to live more simply. I believe that, as a couple, they put their faith into practice in real and practical ways. They both inspired and challenged me to be my best self. I’m happy that they are together again and fully alive in God’s abundant love and grace. Blessings, Helen
Ruth made a huge difference in the world and in our lives.
She lived Love and led by example!
She and Jack were that forever kind of love.
I cherish our conversations with them, at dinner after sporting events or school functions.
Her Love Lives On.
Dear Ruth, you only knew me from your FST math class in High School. I was one student of many in your career. Yet you offered me a place to stay in your own home and to spend my High School year along with your husband and kids. In that year I got to know and start to love my second family. Jack – may his soul rest in peace with you – took me in with open arms as well and was always there with tips and tricks about all things practical. You on the other hand were there whenever I needed advice as a teenager. And boy did I have a lot of questions when I was 16/17!! Yet you showed patience and more often than not just listened to what I had to say. Your kids Beth and Gabe were like a brother and sister to me. You raised them as good people, loving parents and you know that they will always have a family in Germany to go to.
I was glad that I was able to visit you and Jack again this year after not having seen you for a long time. You still recognised me, loved me and you both welcomed me into your home again. Thank you for that and the time I was allowed to spend with you during your time on earth. Please say hi to my father and I will see you again one day.
In loving memory
Carsten
Ruth and Jack, my wife Sheila and I were “pew partners” for many years at Light of Christ. Jack and I crossed paths in Electrical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame in 1964 and met up again at LOC many years later. Ruth and I were class mates at the 1971 graduation at ND, she with an MS in Mathematics and my PhD in EE. And to continue the multiple connections, Sheila and Ruth both grew up in Cincinnati — never having crossed paths and both surprised with the coincidence. I was fortunate to know Ruth as well as Jack. They will be missed. Blessings, Peter
Ruth and I quickly became friends when we met at the Dawson School in 1987.
Her intellect, kindness and compassion were immediately apparent, and it didn’t take long to recognize that these qualities were accompanied by a wicked sense of humor.
At a Friday afternoon faculty meeting Ruth slipped a dead mouse into my coffee cup and no one laughed harder at my reaction to this prank than she did. I quickly realized that her sense of humor matched my own and our friendship grew from there.
I admired Ruth’s gift for teaching Mathematics at all levels. She had the versatility to explain difficult concepts in many ways and respected the learning styles of all her students.
Together Ruth and I enjoyed skiing, hiking, camping, problem-solving, and baking unusual Christmas cookies.
I am grateful for the many times my husband and I spent with Ruth and Jack, in Colorado and later in Idaho.
Beth and Gabe have been special to me since they were small. I still hold them both close to my heart.
Ruth, I will always treasure the friendship we shared.
Ruth and I entered the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati on the same day – Sept. 8, 1958. We formed a friendship early on and continued that friendship for years to come! I lived with her in Community in Albuquerque, NM – I was studying to be a RN at the University of Albuquerque, and she was teaching at St. Pius High School. I “hurt” when she left the SCs, but so admired her new JOURNEY….JACK, a truly great gentleman with many gifts. My last visit with Ruth and Jack was in 2010 at their home on Tanager Cir., Longmont, CO. I still have treasured pictures from that trip! RIP dear Ruth and Jack!!! No doubt, you are not both in FULLNESS OF UNION WITH OUR LOVING GOD!
Patmarie Bernard, SC
Ruth was such a wonderful friend in my 8 years at Dawson. Our love of music bonded us even more. Rest in peace, Ruth.
Ruth and I entered the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati on the same day – Sept. 8, 1958. We formed a friendship early on and continued that friendship for years to come! I lived with her in Community in Albuquerque, NM – I was studying to be a RN at the University of Albuquerque, and she was teaching at St. Pius High School. I “hurt” when she left the SCs, but so admired her new JOURNEY….JACK, a truly great gentleman with many gifts. My last visit with Ruth and Jack was in 2015 at their home on Tanager Cir., Longmont, CO. I still have treasured pictures from that trip! RIP dear Ruth and Jack!!! No doubt, you are not both in FULLNESS OF UNION WITH OUR LOVING GOD!
I was fortunate to have Ruth as my teacher at Dawson – she was the best math teacher I’ve ever had – skilled at explaining the concepts, helping us all work through our limitations, bringing joy and her love for the topics to us. Such a brilliant and hilarious soul – rest in peace, Ruth.