Diocesan News
The death of the Revd Canon Norman Trevor Ruddock
United Dioceses of Cashel, Waterford, Lismore, Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin
We regret to announce that the death has taken place on 6th November 2006 in Wexford of the Revd Canon Norman Ruddock.
Born in Carlow on 11th March 1935, Norman was one of three ordained brothers. His sister Gladys was Principal of Alexandra College and his brother John set up ?Limerick Music'.
Having trained as a teacher, Norman taught in St. Andrew's College Dublin, Fethard on Sea and Donegal.
His first curacy was in St. Stephen?s in Belfast where he was ordained deacon in 1958 and priest in 1959. His second curacy was in Lesson Park, Dublin from 1960 ? 63.
He spent a time ministering in America 1969-71 and on return worked with his long-time friend, Bishop Noel Willoughby, who was archdeacon in Glenageary. Norman was appointed as rector of Killane and Killegney 1973-81 and resigned his post to take up work with Cecil Kerr in the ministry of healing and evangelism. He was rector of Castlepollard from 1984 until he returned to become Rector of Wexford in 1993 and also became Chancellor and then Precentor of Ferns.
After his retirement in 2004, Norman published ?The Rambling Rector? but the illness that he has valiantly fought off thirteen years previously returned. Bishop Noel?s death last February was a tremendous blow to him as was the death from cancer of his sister Daphne six months ago.
Norman will be remembered as a man of ecumenical conviction, a lover of art and music, a keen golfer (he was Captain last year of the Ferns Clergy Golf team, an ecumenical group of clergy) and as a phenomenal fund-raiser. He had a loved Wexford and its people and had a deep love of Jean his wife, his children Norman, Lynn, Karen and Julie and his grandchildren.
He will be remembered with affection by many.
He died peacefully in Wexford General Hospital after a long battle with cancer.
His funeral service will be at St. Iberius Church Wexford on Thursday at 2 p.m., followed with burial in Killurin graveyard.
The preacher at the service will be long-time friend and associate of Norman, Fr. Jim Fegan, Administrator of Rowe St. Church, Wexford.