Obituary of Sr. Gretchen Hermanny, R.S.M.

GRETCHEN HERMANNY, RSM, MD Gretchen Hermanny, RSM, MD, formerly known as Sister Mary Eucharista, died peacefully on May 28th, at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, after a long illness. Born in Brooklyn, NY on June 15, 1942, she grew up in New Jersey until her Mother died in 1952. Her father remarried and moved the family to Ohio. Believing it would be best for her, Henry enrolled Gretchen at Mount St. Mary Academy when she was in seventh grade. It was a boarding school at the time. After graduation, she joined the Army where she served in the medical unit for two years before entering the Sisters of Mercy of New Jersey. She graduated Georgian Court College in 1967 and taught Biology in Perth Amboy, NJ. Gretchen then fulfilled her lifelong dream and entered medical school under the GI bill. She graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Internal Medicine in 1973, and after several internships, began her ministry with the migrant workers of Florida and New Jersey. In 1983, Sister Gretchen and Jacquie Dewar, RSM from Detroit founded the Frances Warde Health Service in Rosman, NC, where they provided health care and education to the underserved mountain people for nearly 30 years. She was beloved by patients and colleagues. In 1995, she developed breast cancer. Chemo followed the surgery. Her brain began to change. She studied what was happening to her and believed she had developed what they are now calling "Chemo" brain. She was forced to retire in 2010 and moved to Gabriel Hall in Watchung, NJ in 2012 and then into McAuley Hall in 2013. Her health continued to decline until her death on Thursday, May 28, 2015. She is pre-deceased by her parents. She is mourned by her cousins, Alfred, the Lock and Rupp families in Germany, Camille of Georgia, Lucille of NY, and Noleen, Peter and David of Sydney, Australia, her "adopted family – Mrs. May Kupper, Vina Serrano, Peggy Mullen, Marilyn Binns , Ted Kupper, many nieces and nephews, her dear friend and faithful caregiver, Sister Jacquie Dewar as well her Mercy Community and many friends. Her wake and funeral will be on Monday, June 1st at McAuley Hall, beginning at 9:30 am. Welcome home service at 10am will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am. Full Military honors will be followed at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in South Plainfield, NJ. Gretchen has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Sisters of Mercy Mid-Atlantic Community to be used to help those who are in need.