Mary Rita, one of eight children of Leo Lambert and Rudina Philomena Bauer Klarer, was born in Louisville, Ky., on January 3, 1926. Her faith journey began with baptism at St. Columba Church on January 10. In September of 1931, she began her formal education at St. Columba, staffed by the MSJ Ursulines, where she continued through grade eight. Her choice for high school was MSJ Academy. However, her father died in 1940, leaving her mother with seven children, assisted by the oldest boy who dropped out of college to help with the family business. This young man died suddenly in 1941, and the second son left college to assume the responsibility. Mary Rita felt she was needed at home, so she attended secondary school in Louisville. On graduation, she enrolled at Nazareth College but stayed only three semesters.
In February 1946, she entered the MSJ novitiate to begin preparation for her life work. She was invested on August 14, and given the name Sister Mary Rudina. In September 1948, shortly after professing temporary vows, she was assigned to St. Thomas More Elementary School, Paducah, Ky., as primary teacher. Her other assignments in Kentucky were Harrodsburg and Buechel. During the summers Sister pursued her own education at Nazareth College, earning a BS and an MA at Xavier College, Cincinnati. She then began her work in the secondary schools. She was assigned to Fredericktown, Ky., and Nebraska City, Neb., in math and science. In the summer months she served as a volunteer in the Municipal Correctional Institute, Kansas City, Mo., where she helped the residents get ready for the GED exams. She also served at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Sister Rudina spent 20 years in this ministry; she loved the work, and was an asset.
Sister was seriously injured in an auto accident in 1985, and spent two months in the hospital. She returned to work in a wheelchair, then with a walker, and then with a leg brace. After her accident and recovery, Sister Rudina served three more years at the Municipal Correctional Institute, and then moved into retreat and spiritual hospitality work at Saint John Diocesan Center and later at the Adama Prayer House. Beginning in 1992, Sister Rudina began seven years of service as chaplain at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.
Before coming to Saint Joseph Villa at Mount Saint Joseph, Sister Rudina served the people in St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City for 12 years. Then, late in 2010, Sister Rudina knew it was time to come home to Kentucky. Of her January 2011 departure from Kansas City, she would write, “I have been out here over 40 years. Much more than half of all my working years. I’m glad we don’t have to pack up and transfer memories; they come along unbidden.” Sister Rudina died on July 11, 2014, at Mount Saint Joseph. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 15 and Sister was buried in the convent cemetery.