Sister Mary Toeckes, OP (1937-2024)

SINSINAWA, Wis.—Sister Mary Toeckes, OP, died Feb. 14, 2024, at her home in Chewelah, Wash. Her religious name was Sister Matthias. The funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary of the Rosary Church, Chewelah, Feb. 22, followed by burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Spokane, Wash.

Sister Mary professed vows as a Poor School Sister of St. Dominic at Kettle Falls, Wash., in 1958. She graduated with a BS in nursing from the University of Seattle in 1962. The congregation members at Kettle Falls became the Dominican Sisters of Spokane in 1986 and merged with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1995.

Sister Mary’s ministry has been dedicated to nursing and chaplaincy. In Washington, she served as staff nurse at Holy Family Nursing Home, Spokane. Sister Mary was a nursing supervisor at Holy Family Hospital, Spokane, and Mount Carmel Hospital, Colville. In Chewelah, she served at St. Joseph Hospital as director of nursing and at DominiCare. She also ministered at the hospital as director of pastoral care and as chaplain. Sister Mary served as director of pastoral care at Mt. Carmel Hospital, Colville. She was a member of the elected leadership for the Dominican Sisters of Spokane from 1986 to 1995. In Montana, Sister Mary ministered as director of nursing at Pondera County Hospital, Conrad. 

Sister Mary was born Nov. 10, 1937, in Great Falls, Mont., the daughter of Math and Edith (Temple) Toeckes. Her parents; four brothers, George Toeckes, Willard Toeckes, Donald Toeckes, and Charles Toeckes; and two sisters, Dorothy Lucas and Therese Van Auken, preceded her in death. She is survived by a sister, Isabelle Femling; a brother, Albert Toeckes; nieces; nephews; and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared 65 years of religious life.

Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or given online at www.sinsinawa.org/donate.