St. Mary of the Woods, IN - Sister Mary Lois Hennel died at on April 3, 2026 at 11:48 pm in Mother Theodore Hall, St. Mary-of-the-Woods. She was born on April 18, 1927 in Evansville, IN to John William and Ollie Mae Willett Hennel and was baptized Ollie Marie.

Sister entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence on July 21, 1946 and professed Final Vows on January 23, 1954. She earned a bachelor's degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master's degrees from Indiana State University. In her 79 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered for 21 years as a teacher in schools in Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In 1970, she left teaching for administrative work, serving in the St. Gabriel Province office in Indianapolis as well as at Mother Theodore Guerin HS office in River Grove, IL and the Archdiocese of San Francisco Tribunal office. She also gave seventeen years, at different intervals, to the business office at the motherhouse. Retiring in 2002, she continued to serve as a volunteer in the business office, at Providence Food Pantry for eight years, and to serve her sisters in many other ways. Beginning in 2022, she dedicated herself totally to the ministry of prayer. Those whom Sister Mary Lois met were enriched by her kind greeting and subsequent words of genuine interest. She had a great gift to remember people and those who had been entrusted to her prayer intentions. She was a truly gracious soul who will be missed by those whom she encountered.

Sister Mary Lois is survived by a brother Joseph Hennel of Fort Wayne, IN and a sister Maggie Hennel of Avon, OH. She is preceded in death by two brothers, Br. Rex Hennel, CSC, and Msgr J. William Hennel, and two sisters: Katie Hennel and Elizabeth B. Sikora

The wake is on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. in the Church of the Immaculate Conception with the wake service at 4:30 p.m. The wake continues on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. with the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m., Reverend Terry Johnson presiding. Burial is in the cemetery of the Sisters of Providence. The DeBaun Funeral Homes and Crematory assisted with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence, 1 Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876.

INDIANA

St. Anne, New Castle, 1954; St. Andrew, Indianapolis, 1954-60; St. Joseph, Indianapolis, 1963-65; St. Joseph, Jasper, 1965-69; Sacred Heart, Evansville, 1969-70; St. Gabriel province, Indianapolis, (secretary/treasurer) 1975-78; Business Office, Motherhouse, 1970-75, 1980-84, 1994-2002; Continental convalescent Center, Indianapolis, (bookkeeper/secretary) 1978-79.

ILLINOIS

Our Lady of Sorrows, Chicago, 1949-53; Mother Theodore Guerin HS, River Grove, (secretary) 1990-94.

MASSACHUSETTS