GRACE MARGARET HENDEL

March 12, 1933 - January 14, 2014

Grace Margaret Hendel, retired educator from Stevens Point, Wisconsin died on January 14th at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield at age 80. Grace was born to George and Hilda (Thill) Hendel on March 12, 1933 in Caledonia, Minnesota. After graduation from Loretto High School in 1954, Grace earned a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from the College of Saint Teresa, Winona, MN. She received her Masters and Doctorate in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota. Grace was an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Home Economics at the College of St. Teresa in Winona, MN. From 1971 until her retirement in 1995, Grace was a Professor of Food and Nutritional Science at the University Wisconsin Stevens Point. She served as Head of the Graduate Nutritional Science Program. Grace generously volunteered her professional skills as Consulting Dietitian at Saint Anne's Hospital in Winona and for the Portage County, WI Department of Aging- Nutrition Program. She focused much of her time, before and after retirement, using her skills for the benefit of her parish church and diocese becoming a Lay Minister in 1985 and certified Spiritual Director in 1992. She was a Leader of Prayer in the parish, a Eucharist Minister, and she taught an Old Testament course for teacher certification. As a sister Grace visited her brothers and their families often; as an aunt she never missed a birthday, as a sister-in-law she always found a way to contribute to family meals when she traveled home for the holidays. As a cat lover among cat lovers she always drove to the farm with a trunk full of cat food. She was a quiet, considerate, and loving woman. Grace was preceded in death by her parents George and Hilda (Thill) Hendel, brother Harold Hendel, nephew Peter Hendel, and niece Greta (Hendel) Ingvalson. She is survived by a brother, George (Mary Jane) Hendel, sister-in-law Dorothy Hendel, nieces Katy (Dewayne) Ullsperger, Anne (Steven) Selness, Julie (Ron) Hendel-Bahr, Elizabeth Hendel, nephews Karl Hendel, Matt (Pam) Hendel and nine great nieces and nephews. In addition to family, Grace leaves behind many caring and supportive friends in her Stevens Point community. A funeral mass will be at noon on Friday, January 17, at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Stevens Point, WI. Visitation will be from 10-12 pm at the church. Father Dennis Lynch will officiate. A memorial mass will be at 11 am on Sat., January 18th at St. Mary's Church in Caledonia, with Father Lynch and father Matt Fasnacht officiating. Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11 am Sat. morning before the service at the church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia. Memorials may be given to, St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Stevens Point, WI; St. Mary's Church, Caledonia, MN; Humane Society of Portage County; University Wisconsin, Steven's Point Scholarship Fund -G. Hendel- Dietetics. Boston Funeral Home, Stevens Point and McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, are assisting the family with arrangements.