Ruth Helen, the third child of 11 born to Thomas Leon and Irmine Mulligan Riney, was born February 25, 1919, at St. Joseph, Ky. As the oldest daughter, she assumed much responsibility for her younger brothers and sisters.
Ruth’s formal education began at St. Alphonsus School in September 1925 where she commuted daily with her two older brothers in a horse-drawn buggy. In 1930, when the family moved to Owensboro, she attended St. Joseph School until her senior year. She and two older brothers transferred to St. Frances Academy. After graduation, she completed commercial classes at the Mount Saint Joseph Junior College. She was then employed as secretary in the Wholesale Department at Anderson’s Department Store in Owensboro.
On August 1, 1938, she entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. On August 14, 1939, she received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Mary Leon.
Her apostolate of teaching began in September 1938 at Mount Saint Joseph Academy teaching commercial subjects for three years. Other teaching assignments were in the upper grades in New Haven, Sorgho, Louisville (St. James), and Bardwell, Ky. Later she taught high school math and science in Nebraska, then in Kentucky at New Haven, Lebanon and Paducah. Sister Mary Leon was a skilled, influential teacher whose warm and caring personality motivated students to love learning and pursue success. Her students consistently received highest honors in local, state, national and international competitions. Annually during KEA Week, she accompanied her science clubs on well-planned educational trips or seminars. Her own thirst for knowledge was never satisfied. This excitement for learning led her to apply for, and receive grants for further study at various universities, 11 in all.
In 1986, after 47 years of teaching, she opted for a change in ministry. She served for nine years as pastoral associate at St. Paul Church, Princeton, Ky., and at Christ The King Church, Madisonville, Ky. She returned to the Motherhouse in 1995 to assist in the fundraising drive for the renovation of Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center and to assist the community archivist.
In 2002, she was diagnosed with cancer. In the months that followed, she clung courageously to life, always patiently resigned to the inevitable. She died January 28, 2003. The wake service was held Wednesday, January 29 in the Motherhouse chapel. Her brother, Father Phil Riney, celebrant, Msgr. Bernard Powers, Father Fred Byrd, Father Pat Bittel, Father Joe O’Donnell and Father Joseph Mills concelebrated the funeral Mass on Thursday afternoon, January 30. Sister’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.