OBITUARIES

Sister Mary Margaret Hewlecke, OP

Sister Mary Margaret Hewlecke of the Infant Jesus, a professed Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose for 75 years, died June 14 at the community’s motherhouse in Fremont.

She was born Oct. 31, 1915, in San Francisco. After joining the Dominicans, she taught high school science and math for 52 years in California and Oregon. Her assignments included St. Elizabeth High School in Oakland. She held a master’s degree in science from St. Louis University.

When she retired from teaching, she served her religious community as an accountant, kindergarten aide and library assistant in Fremont.

She is survived by two cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held June 17 with burial the following day at the motherhouse cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Dominican Sisters, 43326 Mission Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539.
 

Sister Gerarda Marie Joubert, SNJM

Sister Gerarda Marie Joubert, who dedicated a significant amount of her life to ministries within the Oakland Diocese, died June 21 in Los Gatos at the age of 93. A native of Momence, Ill., she had been a vowed Holy Names Sister for 74 years.

Sister Gerarda taught at Holy Names High School in Oakland; was the founder of the Bridge Home in San Leandro for teenage girls in need of housing, counseling and support (1978-1985); served as alumnae director at Holy Names High for eight years, and did pastoral ministry at St. Mary Center in Oakland.

She also taught at Marin Catholic High in Kentfield, Ramona Convent Secondary School in Alhambra and St. Monica High School in Santa Monica.

She provided leadership within her religious community as secondary school coordinator, provincial councilor, and SNJM associate director.

A Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated June 29 at the Convent of the Holy Names in Los Gatos. Burial took place on June 30 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward.

Gifts in memory of Sister Gerarda may be made to the Ministry Fund, Sisters of the Holy Names, P.O. Box 907, Los Gatos, CA 95031.
 

Sister M. Christian Koch, CSC

Sister M. Christian Koch, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Cross for 58 years, died in Mishawaka, Indiana, on June 14 at the age of 80.

A native of Richmond, she graduated from St. Mary of the Wasatch College in Salt Lake City and began her primary mission as a teacher after entering the community in 1952. She taught at St. Bernard School in Oakland from 1955-1958.

In addition to teaching, she did parish ministry, was a tutor and, while living at the Holy Cross Sisters’ convent in Mountain View, was in charge of maintenance. She remained active in the ministry of prayer until her death.

A funeral Mass was celebrated on June 17 at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Memorial contributions can be sent to Sisters of the Holy Cross, Ministry with the poor, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46556 or on-line at www.cscsisters.org.

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