Catherine (Kay) Ruoff, 94, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2020 at the home of her granddaughter in Elizabethtown, PA.
Kay was born on September 16, 1925 in Philadelphia to the late Gilbert and Rose (Sharkey) Armstrong. After graduating from St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing in 1947, Kay worked as an RN at Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill, PA, at St. Joseph Elementary School and a primary care practice in Collingdale, PA.
In January of 1948, Kay married the love of her life, Christian A. Ruoff, II. They celebrated 53 years of marriage at the time of his death in 2001.
Throughout her life, Kay was a very social and fun-loving person. She always enjoyed a gathering and over the years hosted many parties with her husband at their home in Collingdale, where she lived until 2012. While living in Collingdale, she spent much of her time playing bingo and spending time with family and friends. Kay remained active into her 95thyear. Most recently, she attended the Mohler Senior Center in Hershey where she especially enjoyed playing Canasta. She also loved spending time with her friends at the Knitting and Gamers Club at Encounter Church in Palmyra. When at home, Kay took pleasure in a competitive game of Rummikub with family, friends or anyone who was up for a challenge.
Kay was an avid reader and at times would read 2 or 3 novels a week on her Kindle. She was a lover and tender of African Violets and win or lose, she remained faithful to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Phillies.
A kind and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Kay will be greatly missed by her family. She is survived by her son, Christian, III, husband of Kathy Ruoff, of Lancaster, her daughter, Barbara, wife of Joseph Gardner, Yanceyville, NC, 5 grandsons, Joe Gardner and Dan Gardner, Collingdale, PA., Tim, husband of Tara Gardner, Newton, MA, Christian, husband of Kelly Ruoff, St. Petersburg, FL, Kevin Ruoff, Anchorage, AK and 2 granddaughters, Rose Asrican, Durham, NC, and Aubrey, wife of Ethan Olney, Elizabethtown, PA. and 5 great-grandchildren, Dylan and Amanda Gardner, Morgan and Hannah Asrican and Christian Ruoff. She is also survived by her sister, Ruth, wife of the late Bucky Haines, of Edgewater FL and brother, James, husband of Evelyn Armstrong, Sicklerville, NJ.
A Memorial Service will be held at Encounter Church, 220 Campbelltown Road, Palmyra, PA with a Life Celebration to follow at the home of Ethan and Aubrey Olney, 5296 Ridge Road, Elizabethtown, PA. The DATE and TIME to be determined.
