(Toledo, OH Region)
Professed: August 17, 1954
Sister Mary Michaelyn Hempfling, age 89, died at Ebeid Hospice in Sylvania on the morning of September 9, 2023. If a life could be summarized in one word, hers would be “gratitude.” “Thanks a million!” was her favorite expression, and graciousness was her lifestyle.
Born on May 5, 1934, in Delphos, Ohio to her parents Michael and Lucille (Youngpeter) Hempfling and baptized Martha Lucille, she was the oldest child of seven children. She attended St. John School in Delphos, where she was taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame. After eighth grade Martha became an Aspirant with the Sisters at Notre Dame Academy. She received the name Sister Mary Michaelyn in 1952 and was professed in 1954. She attended Mary Manse College and the University of Toledo obtaining a master’s in education.
Loving to teach, Sister taught elementary school 37 years usually in the primary grades at St. Mary, Gesu, St. Louis, St. Ann, Sacred Heart, St. Martin de Porres in Toledo; Immaculate Conception, Bellevue; St. Wendelin, Fostoria; Sacred Heart, Fremont; St. Mary, Leipsic; St. Joseph, Maumee; St. Joseph, Monroeville; St. Paul, Norwalk; and Holy Rosary School, Jacksonville, Florida. She was the principal at Sacred Heart School, Toledo 1973-78.
After retiring from teaching, she was receptionist at Maria Child Care Center in Toledo for four years.
Then began 13 years of coordinating and directing the religious education programs in St. Michael, Gibsonburg; St. Joseph, Paulding; and Holy Rosary/Sacred Heart/St. Stephen, Toledo. She spent four years in New Smyrna, Florida and one year in Gainesville, Florida as a parish and school volunteer. Throughout her years of teaching and beyond, Sister was especially gifted at ministering to the elderly and visiting the sick. Returning to her hometown in 2014, she gave two years of service to St. John Parish and Vancrest Nursing Home in Delphos.
Sister was a beautiful combination of sweetness, concern for others, humor, love for her family and making everyone her friend. Her love of life was evident in her attention to squirrels, chipmunks, and birds—as well as her dexterity in Wii bowling.
Sister is survived by her brother Thomas and her sisters Mary Kahle and Helen Fischer. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Michael, and sisters Ann Wanamaker and Agnes Wheeler. She will be greatly missed by relatives, friends, and her religious community. Devoted to her patron Saint Michael the Archangel, she now may say, “In the presence of the angels I will sing your praise” (Ps. 138:1).
Visitation will be on Saturday, September 16 at 9:00 until the eulogy at 10:40 and the Mass at 10:45 at the Sisters of Notre Dame Center, 5900 Davis Road, Whitehouse, Ohio. Interment will be immediately after the Mass at Resurrection Cemetery. Lunch will follow the burial at the Center. Tributes may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame at 1656 Henthorne Drive, Suite 200, Maumee OH 43537. Arrangements are entrusted to the Urbanski Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, 5055 Secor Road, Toledo.
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