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. 

A Funeral Mass will be held 12:00 Noon, Friday, January 17, 2014, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. Visitation will be held Friday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the church. Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery in Caledonia, MN.

Memorials may be made to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Stevens Point; Church of St. Mary, Caledonia, Minnesota; the Human Society of Portage County or University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point Scholarship Fund- G. Hendel, Dietetics.

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