Sister Mary Laura Hoffa, 87, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, at Mount Joseph Senior Community, Concordia. She had been a Sister of St. Joseph for 66 years.
She was born in Grand Island, Neb., on September 6, 1919, to Robert and Esther Charais Hoffa, the first of two children, and was baptized Esther. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, on June 18, 1939. On March 18, 1940, she received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and was given the name Sister Mary Laura. She pronounced first vows on March 19, 1941, and final vows on August 15, 1944.
She spent her active ministry as bursar in institutions staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph: Marymount College, Salina; Seneca Hospital, Seneca; St. Theresa's Convent, Concordia; and St. Mary's, Silver City, N.M. In 1973, she retired to the Motherhouse until 2004, when she moved to Mount Joseph Senior Village.
She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by a brother, Robert William Hoffa.
A Bible Vigil Service will be held Thursday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m., at the Nazareth Motherhouse Chapel with Sister Sylvia Winterscheidt as the eulogist.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel, with the Rev. William Jarema presiding. The burial will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare/Retirement Fund, or the Apostolic Works of the Sisters, P.O. Box 279, Concordia, KS, 66901.