Lorraine Hofmeister, SP
January 26, 1928 - April 17, 2010
Obituary
Sister Lorraine Hofmeister Sister Rita Clare died on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Washington, at 82 years of age, after 64 years as a Sister of Providence. The Vigil Service will be on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, Washington. The Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Bonney-Watson Funeral Home, Seattle, Washington is in charge of the arrangements.
Lorraine Mary Hofmeister was born on January 26, 1928 in Anaconda, Montana to Andrew S. and Margaret Kastner Hofmeister. She was the second of four children. Her father was a school teacher. In Yakima he worked for the Federal Government, preparing immigrants for citizenship. Her mother was a homemaker with a gift of cooking and sewing.
She and her older sister, Rachel, first met the Sisters of Providence when they were enrolled at Providence Academy in Vancouver, Washington. The girls were in high school when their mother died and both became boarders at St. Joseph Academy, Yakima, Washington until graduation. Her sister, Rachel, joined the Sisters of Providence in 1945.
Sr. Lorraine entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Providence on January 18, 1946, professed her first vows on July 19, 1947 and her final vows on July 19, 1950.
In 1954 she earned her B.A. in Social Studies from the College of Great Falls now University of Great Falls, Great Falls, Montana, and in 1964 she earned her M.A. in Religious Studies from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. In 1981 she received a certificate for Clinical Pastoral Education.
Sr. Lorraine’s ministries as an elementary school teacher included: Providence Academy, Vancouver, Washington, 1947-48, 1952-54; St. Catherine School, Seattle, Washington, 1948-52; Our Lady of Lourdes School, Vancouver, Washington, 1957-59; and Sacred Heart School, Tacoma, Washington, 1963-64; Highland Elementary School, Grants Pass, Oregon, 1970-71; and St. Stephen School, Portland, Oregon, 1971-73. Her other ministries included: School Principal, Holy Family School in Seattle, Washington, 1959-63; Director of the Juniorate, Providence Heights, Issaquah, Washington, 1964-1968; Provincial Councilor, Sisters of Providence, 1964-67; Director, Pastoral Care, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, 1981-91; Chaplain, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, 1992-97.
She traveled to Europe on a grant as an administrative assistant to her cousin, Dr. Andrew L. Hofmeister, Professor of Fine Arts at Washington State University where they researched and developed new student travel-educational experiences as part of the ‘College Abroad’ program.
Upon her retirement in 1997, she enjoyed reading and playing the piano, both of which were constants in her childhood home. She moved to St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Washington in 2004.
Sister Lorraine was head of Pastoral Care at Providence Hospital, Portland, Oregon when I worked there as chaplain until 1990. She will be missed by all who knew her.
dedubster@gmail.com
I was a 5 yr old first grader in 1953 when Sr Rita Clare taught me. Years later she hired me as a chaplain at Providence Portland. I owe her a huge debt of gratitude. I am so blessed to have known her.
Rest in Peace.
Sr. Rita Clare was my 1st grade teacher at Providence Academy, Vancouver, WA, in the early 50s.
Thank you for this opportunity to thank her, she believed in me.
Terry Beard, Portland, OR
We were fellow grad students in Religious Ed at CUA in the 60s. Our paths crossed several times over the years. May she rest in peace.