Sistger Mary Hildegarde Kocher

Sister Mary Hildegarde Kocher OSU (1913-2008) Sister Mary Hildegarde Kocher OSU, 94, died on Thursday, February 21, at the Ursuline Motherhouse in Paola. The wake service will be held on Sunday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ursuline Chapel, and the funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, February 25, at 10:30 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Ursuline Sisters, 901 E. Miami St. Paola, KS 66071. Sister Hildegarde was born Theresa Anna Kocher on December 30, 1913, in Roseville, Iowa, the daughter of Leo and Ida Rennier Kocher. She was received into the Ursuline community as Sister Mary Hildegarde on August 17, 1932, and made her final profession of vows on August 26, 1936. Sister Hildegarde earned a Bachelor"s degree in Elementary Education from Saint Teresa College (Avila) and a Master"s in Special Education from Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. She served as a teacher in area schools for 50 years: Saint Philip Neri, Osawatomie (1938-1943); East Scipio School, Scipio (1943-1956 and 1963-1968); Saint John the Baptist, Greeley, KS (1956-1958); Saint Agnes, Roeland Park (1962-1963); Lakemary Center, Paola (1969-1986); Holy Angels, Garnett (1986-1988). Sister Hildegarde returned to the Motherhouse in 1988 and gave private music lessons at the convent and at Holy Trinity School until recent years. Preceding her in death were her parents, her brothers Elmer Kocher, Harold Kocher, and Myron Kocher; her sisters Sister Mary Henrietta Kocher OSU, Mary Ginder, and Helen Rennier. She is survived by two sisters, Serena Kaufmann of Olney IL and Mildred Drewes of Olney IL; two brothers, Ralph Kocher of Olney IL and Herman Kocher of Olney IL, many nieces and nephews, and her Ursuline Sisters. Sister Hildegarde was a dynamic, faith-filled woman and a loving and dedicated teacher with a wonderful sense of humor. Her joy and laughter were gifts to us all. We will miss her dearly. Ursuline Convent Chapel Paola Service: Monday, February 25, 2008 10:30 AM Visitation: Sunday, February 24, 2008 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM