SISTER OF MERCY, NURSE, EDUCATOR, PASTORAL CARE MINISTER,

A SISTER OF MERCY FOR SEVENTY-TWO YEARS

Sister Mary Gabrielle Hoefer died peacefully at Angela Hospice, Livonia on July 12, 2020 following a lengthy illness.  Her almost ninety years of life began on July 13, 1930 in Earlville, Iowa.  Her parents, Raymond and Olive (Nurre) Hoefer welcomed her to their home where she joined two older sisters, Lillian and Verna. She attended Catholic schools with her younger sister, Alice, and it was at St. John High School in Independence, Iowa that they first met the Sisters of Mercy. Anna Jane knew she had a call to be one of them and joined the community on September 8, 1948.  (Alice came three years later.)   Her first assignment as a newly professed Sister was to study nursing at St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City.  She became a registered nurse and returned to Detroit where she made perpetual vows on August 16, 1954.

Sister Gabrielle's ministerial life was rich in service to persons of all ages, needs and interests.  Her first nursing assignment as supervisor of pediatrics at Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital was interrupted by a need for a third-grade teacher at Our Lady of LaSalette School in Berkley.  She bravely and successfully completed this and returned to the hospital when relief arrived.  From that time until her retirement she was involved in healthcare.  Following several years in clinical nursing she became Associate Director of Mercy School of Nursing, then Acting Director of the Department of Nursing at Mercy College of Detroit followed by becoming Director of a Community Health Nursing Grant.

She was elected to serve on the Provincial Administrative Team in 1971 and later became the Director of Continuing Development for the province. In 1976 she moved into pastoral care at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Sioux City and continued there until transferring to Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque ten years later.  There she served as staff chaplain for several years and then became Director of the Dubuque Archdiocesan Office of Health Ministry.  Six years later it was time to slow down and she returned to Mercy Hospital as a part time/on call chaplain.  In 2010 she retired to McAuley Center in Farmington Hills where she joined her younger sister, Sister Mary Monica, and many friends with whom she had ministered.

Along the way Gabrielle continued her education including a bachelor's degree in nursing education, a master's degree in psychology, clinical pastoral education certification and a master's degree in Christian Spirituality.  She also attended numerous workshops and conferences for personal and professional growth.  She was a valued member of several Iowa Mercy hospital governing boards including Mason City, Clinton and Sioux City.  During her years in Dubuque she was a strong support for her aging mother and her two older sisters in their declining years.

Gabrielle really loved being a Sister of Mercy, attended every gathering she could and prepared for discussions on matters of importance.  She was attentive to the needs of others, gentle in her approach and treasured by the nursing staff at McAuley for her presence with the terminally ill.  She enjoyed good music, interesting conversations and playing cards, especially "hand and foot."   Vacations and travel were highlights, especially her trip to Ireland, a week at Cape Cod, annual trips to Stillpoint and a cross-country trip to Oregon.  She will be missed for her gracious, unassuming manner, her welcoming smile and her acceptance of a stroke which kept her bedridden since August 2019.

She is survived by her sister, Sister Monica, many friends and her loving community of Mercy.

The Prayer of Remembrance for Sister Gabrielle will take place on Thursday, August 6, at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.