Sr. Paula Huecker, SFP
September 21, 1943 – May 24, 2021
There is a song that best describes the heart of Sister Paula’s life – “In peace, I will walk . . . in beauty, I walk . . .” No matter where she was, no matter what she was asked to do, Sr. Paula tried to do it in peace and beauty, kindness and gentleness. Once she felt God call her to religious life, there was no looking back. “Healing the wounds of Christ in poor, suffering humanity” became the focus of her life, and she gave herself to God – and others – completely.
Corrine was born to Theresa and Paul Huecker on September 21, 1943 in McCartysville, Ohio, the 5th of 6 children. Together with brothers Edward, Robert and William and her sisters, Madonna and Carol, she attended McCartysville Elementary School and Anna Local High School in nearby Anna, OH, graduating in 1961. The family lived on a farm, with lots of daily chores to keep all in the family busy, but life was not all work. A creek ran through the property and that became a natural play area for everyone, enabling the kids to cool off in the cold water in the summer and ice skate on its frozen surface in the winter.
Corrine had met both the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor and the Precious Blood Sisters when she was young, and it was the charism of Mother Frances and service to the sick and the poor that attracted her. She entered the novitiate at St. Clare Convent, Cincinnati, OH on September 17, 1961, making her 1st Profession of Vows on August 25, 1963 and her Perpetual Profession on August 25, 1969.
Sr. Paula initially worked as a nursing assistant at Our Lady of Bellefonte, Ashland KY. A few years later, she began her studies at St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing in Dayton, OH, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1969. She returned to Our Lady of Bellefonte in 1971, to continue to care for her patients. Her quiet, peaceful demeanor made her an ideal candidate for nursing. Her compassion for the sick and dying became well known in the community, and she spent the next 33 years ministering to all who came under her care.
She poured her artistic talent, inherited from her mother, into drawing, painting and crafting. She could reproduce pictures perfectly – or create her own images to mirror her desires. Her talent was expressed by creating beautiful greeting cards that often graced the rooms of sisters and friends who were happy recipients of them. She also crafted in clay, producing beautiful little statues of the Infant Jesus and the sheep from the Nativity story to share with others during the Christmas season.
Paula’s care for the sick in Ashland was her passion and her love – but it did not prevent her childlike playfulness to surface and thrive. Perhaps she was still moved by a desire to “mend the broken and cherish the forgotten”, but together with her dear friend, Jane, she would scour flea markets in the area on weekends, coming home with an armful of treasures. These she would clean and repair lovingly, mending and re-clothing dolls for her enjoyment, giving them a second life.
However wonderful her love for her ministry and the people of the community was, her heart and her talent were both engaged when she was asked to leave Ashland and come to Cincinnati to care for the sick and elderly Sisters at the Mercy Franciscan Terrace in 2004. Here, all Paula’s energies were poured out in love, compassion, and service to her Sisters as Care Coordinator and Community Minister for the Sisters both at the Terrace, and also on the Magnificat floor when the Sisters moved to St. Clare Convent. Setting up the nursing floor with her dear friend, Associate Anne Cabanas, and caring for the Sisters, impacted her life deeply; it was a work of Love! She continued to be a sister to the Sisters, providing for their needs, both spiritual and physical; and even here, she used her well-honed creativity and sewing skills to repair and renew worn clothing and other items in need of refurbishment that the Sisters loved and wanted to keep. A skilled, compassionate nurse, Paula always put others needs ahead of her own.
In 2018, Sr. Paula stepped aside from the ministry she loved because of chronic health issues. Being the quiet soul she was, most people were unaware of her suffering. The courage with which she lived enabled her to embrace the Suffering Christ in body and soul. Her “Yes” to God’s call was complete.
The readings and songs that Paula chose for her Liturgy of Resurrection reflect the spirit with which she lived. More than anything else, Sr. Paula lived and loved her call. God was first in her life; she made time for prayer and to nourish her spiritual life, and with energy, love and compassion, she ministered to the poor and sick – always quietly, and with loving care!
The following are some testimonials from our Sisters and Associates who remember with affection Sr. Paula Huecker:
Sr. Paula was a very quiet soul. She was a person faithful to what God asked of her throughout her entire life. For many years, she ministered as a nurse in one of our smaller hospitals in rural Kentucky. However, she consistently told everyone, that her favorite ministry was caring for our own, the sick and elderly Sisters at the Terrace and then the Sisters in Magnificat Community. She gave her all to the task, which was evident to everyone. Unknown to most all, she faced multiple chronic health challenges over many years. I believe Paula knew the suffering Christ very well and yet she focused her energies on others and those things that gave her or others life. Paula personally witnessed to me about the energy of healing grace that comes through personal suffering. Very well done, good and faithful servant!
Your sister always,
Sr. Marilyn Trowbridge, sfp
I thank God for Sr. Paola’s life and for having known her as a woman of prayer, very helpful and very generous. I rember she never tired of loving and serving the other when I shared a piece of journey with in the contemplative experience in the St. Elizabeth community in Assisi. May the Jesus, whom she so loved and served in the charism of Mother Frances, welcome her with the promised hundredfold.
Sr. Marie Augustine Ndione, sfp
I fondly remember her innate smile!
Thoughtful and kind!
May God receive her into his Paradise!
Eternal rest bestow upon her; may the eternal light shine for her!
Sr. Francesca Atorino, sfp
Sr. Paula was abundantly blest with many skills. And she was ever ready and eager to share these blessings with others.
Sr. Paula was a talented seamstress. She could create a pattern and make the dress or skirt. She could mend a tear in ones slacks; lengthen or shorten the slacks to fit. It gave her great pleasure to be a service.
Paula enjoyed painting. The paint brush was her instrument of choice and she delighted to share her artwork.
Paula had a contagious smile; when one greeted her she gave a wide smile across her face. She expressed pleasure in your companionship. She enjoyed friendship with many people who entered into her life
As a nurse she generously ministered to the patients she cared for and lifted their spirits with stories or good jokes. She had a sincere compassion for all who suffered pain.
Paula is now praising and thanking God for the many opportunities that she had in living a dedicated life in the service of God and all God’s people.
Sr. Karen Hartman, sfp
I came to know Sr. Paula when I was a temporary professed sister and had the opportunity to visit the community of sisters living in Ashland, Kentucky. There were four sisters in the community, Sr. Ann Cecile, Sr. Mary Lawrence, Sr. Eva Marie and Sr. Paula. Sr. Madonna, who was my Mentor at that time took me to Ashland and we stayed overnight. It was a “fun” weekend with the sisters with delicious home-cooked meals and a fish-fry at the parish. When Sr. Paula moved to Banning Road, I saw her collection of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls which she made and I admired her creativity. In one of my visits to St. Clare, I went to the “thrift shop” which was located at the basement of the convent and found a piece of cloth for a nativity set. I got this piece of material and requested Sr. Paula to sew the pieces together which she gladly did on one condition: that I will do the rest by filling the pieces with beans or sand to make the figures of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and the donkey which I never did until I found them in one of the boxes sent to the Philippines when the mission was started in 2009. I finally got the sand to fill the figures of the Holy Family and this became our first nativity set in the mission and because it was so unique, it became a conversation piece during our first Christmas in Dumaguete and the years after. So, Sr. Paula may not have been in the mission but her presence will always be felt in the Philippine mission.
Coming back to Cincinnati in December of 2018, I was very much surprised to see how much Sr. Paula had changed from the last time I saw her. During the last few weeks of her life, I gave her communion in her room and visited her almost every evening to say a prayer and bid her good night. On the night of her death, I stayed with her and prayed, holding her hand at times. I was praying the rosary when she tried to talk and held up one of her hands as if she was reaching out for something. I asked her if she wanted something but she just closed her eyes. I prayed earnestly to the Blessed Mother to cover Sr. Paula with the mantle of her maternal protection and to accompany her to Jesus, her son on her final hours. That morning after her death, I just realized that in her bedroom, there were two big rosaries hanging on her wall and these were the wooden ones that the sisters used to wear around their habits in the past. I knew in my heart that the Blessed Mother took her then for she died on her feast day – Mary as Mother of the Church. Sr. Paula, I may have known you for a short while, but deep within me, we shared a strong bond as daughters of Mother Frances. Pray for us and may you now enjoy the eternal happiness promised by our Lord Jesus. Sr. Armida Sison, sfp
A beautiful woman, inside and out, Paula lived her ministry with exceptional competence, compassion and care. Her smile lives on in my heart.
Sfp Associate Karen Amend
I feel an overwhelming sense of loss and sadness for Sr. Paula, my dear friend. However, there is joy in knowing she is free of suffering and home with Mother Frances and all the good Sisters called home to God.
When God opened the door at Franciscan Terrace for Sr. Paula and I to care for the Sisters, something very special happened! Both our lives were enhanced! We learned we were more alike than different, relying on each others strengths in our professional and personal lives.
Sr. Paula was intensely loyal, I knew I could count on her support and advice……. even if we disagreed! She was honest, clear and concise. We made a good team providing care.
She loved nature, music, art and sewing, she shared these talents with all, expressing her love . She could repair anything, I always marveled at her ingenuity and creativity. I have a treasure chest of her cards, each painted lovingly to mark a special occasion.
A skilled , compassionate nurse, always putting other’s needs before her own. We also shared our passion for nursing!
At a time during my life when my soul was searching, Sr. Paula introduced me to Gethsemani and Thomas Merton. I am forever grateful, it nourished us both with the silence of spirituality! We maintained silence during our retreats- talking non-stop on our way there and back!
Dearest Paula, I know you are looking into the face of God. You touched humanity in many ways, thank you for touching my life. Your life is now full with love and joy – It is perfect!
“Death is, then the point at which life can attain it’s pure fulfillment.
Death brings life to it’s goal- the goals not death but perfect life.” (Thomas Merton)
Sfp Associate Anne Cabanas
