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1, 1923 - Nov. 21, 2009MISHAWAKA - Ruth Hagerty, 86, passed away at 2:05 p.m. Saturday, November 21, 2009 at Golden Living Center-Fountainview in Mishawaka. Miss Hagerty was a loving sister, aunt and cousin to generations of family members. She was born November 1, 1923, in South Bend to Mary Elizabeth (Murphy) and William J. Hagerty. Miss Hagerty attended Marshall High School in Marshall, Texas. She and her twin sister, the late Agnes Hagerty, accompanied their parents as they arranged for large department stores to sell the silver polish they produced in their family company. The business, W.J. Hagerty & Sons Ltd., Inc., was founded in 1905 and is still family-owned. Miss Hagerty retired in 1986 from the Notre Dame Library, where she served for 40 years as a librarian assistant. Her sister also was a librarian assistant. She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish, the Padre Pio Prayer Group, and the Senior Parish Group. Miss Hagerty spent her entire life with her twin sister. The pair spent most of their years in the South Bend area, except for five years in Marshall, Texas, and two years in Washington, D.C. After retiring, the sisters traveled to every one of the 50 U.S. states as well as to countries in Europe, India, Africa and elsewhere. Survivors include the family of the late cousins, Boyd and Patsy (McCarthy) Schellinger of the South Bend area. Joseph Schellinger, in particular, was tireless in his efforts to assist and care for both sisters during their later years. Also surviving is nephew Michael Hagerty and cousin, Barbara Murphy, both of South Bend, as well as numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews of the Murphy, Hagerty, Schellinger and McCarthy families in South Bend; Pasadena and Houston, TX; Ft. Myers, FL; Santa Cruz, CA and Boulder, CO. Other survivors are nephew, Joseph M. Haley of Spanaway, WA and niece, Ann C. (Haley) Smith of Indianapolis. In addition to her parents and twin sister, Miss Hagerty was preceded in death by sisters Mary Helen (McNamara), Geraldine Frances (Haley), Mary Joan (Thatcher) and Hortense Hildegarde, and by brothers, Mansiel Galla, William Joseph, Patrick Thomas, and John Maurice. Visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at Palmer Funeral Home-Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Rd., South Bend and from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Basilica. Burial will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Parish. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.