Submitted by: Dan Rich
Sister Claire Marie Hertel CSC
Oct. 21, 1912 - July 29, 2000
Sister Claire Marie (Claire Marie Hertel) CSC died on July 29, 2000, in Saint Mary's Convent, Notre Dame, Ind. Sister Claire Marie was born on Oct. 21, 1912, in Goshen, Ind., to the late Michael Hertel and Mary Rosing Hertel, one of 11 children.
She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1930, made her first profession in 1933 and her final profession in 1936. Sister Claire Marie was the third member of the Hertel family to enter the Congregation. Sister taught in elementary schools from 1931 until 1973. Most of her teaching was done in the Midwest. She taught in and was principal of Saint Theodore's, Chicago, Ill., and Saint Paul's, Danville, Ill. Sister taught in the Indiana schools of Saint Peter's, LaPorte; Saint Paul's, Valparaiso; and Saint Mary's, Michigan City. She taught in and was principal of Saint Ambrose, Anderson, Ind.; Christ the King, South Bend, Ind.; and taught at Saint Mary of the Lake, Gary, Ind. While principal of Christ the King, Sister encouraged the students to visit Healthwin and other residences for elders. She also encouraged her faculty at Christ the King to become involved with the Civil Rights movement. Sister retired from teaching in 1973 to become a parish visitor to the elderly, 1973-1975, and again in 1980-1989, at St. Martin de Porres Parish and St. Mary's Cathedral Parish, Peoria, Ill. In 1975, Sister moved to Woodstock, Ill., and continued in parish ministry. Sister Claire Marie was assistant superior of the Sisters of the Holy Cross Novitiate when it was located in Denver, Colo., 1978-1980.
Returning to the Midwest, Sister was very active in community service and ministry to the elderly at Saint Joseph's Towers and Saint Paul's Retirement Community over the years of 1989-1994. She was able to bring communion to shut-ins. In 1994, Sister retired to Marian Convent, Saint Mary's, and then to Saint Mary's Convent, where she entered into the Apostolate of Prayer until her death.
Sister Claire Marie was preceded in death by her sisters: Sister M. Ivan (Cecilia Hertel), Sister M. John Michael (Colette Hertel), Hildegarde Hertel and Helen Irish; and brothers, Paul Hertel, Walter Hertel, Rev. Louis Hertel and Raymond Hertel.
Sister is survived by her sister; Mrs. Elmer J. (Angela) Danch of South Bend; her brother, Norbert Hertel of Portland, Ore.; nieces, Mary Theresa Sparks, JoAnn Hanlon, Elsie Horvath and Evelyn Szucs, all of South Bend, Phyllis Hertel, Mishawaka, Ind., and Treva Meunick, of Ahaheim, Calif.; and by nephews, Michael J. and David A. Danch, and Paul Hertel, all of South Bend.
Wake services will be held in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2000, followed by interment at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind. 46556. Kaniewski Funeral Home, is handling arrangements.