In Loving Memory

Sister Mary Toeckes, OP

Sister Mary Toeckes, OP, died Feb. 14, 2024, at her home in Chewelah, Wash. Her rosary service will be held Wed., Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Mary of the Rosary Catholic Church, Chewelah. The funeral Mass will take place at St. Mary of the Rosary Thurs., Feb. 22 at 10:30 a.m. with burial to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Spokane, Wash. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Chewelah, is handling arrangements.

Sister Mary was born Nov. 10, 1937, to Math and Edith (Temple) Toeckes in Great Falls, Mont. She attended school in Power, MT where she graduated as a twelve-year senior in 1955.  She then drove to Kettle Falls and entered Our Lady of the Valley Convent.  She professed vows as a Poor School Sister of St. Dominic at Kettle Falls, Wash., in 1958 and received the religious name of Sister Matthias. She graduated with a BS in nursing from the Seattle University in 1962. The congregation members at Kettle Falls became the Dominican Sisters of Spokane in 1986 and merged with the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1995.

Her ministry has been dedicated to nursing and chaplaincy. In Washington, Sister Mary served as staff nurse at Holy Family Nursing Home, Spokane. She was a nursing supervisor at Holy Family Hospital, Spokane, and Mount Carmel Hospital, Colville.  Sister Mary also served as director of pastoral care at Mt. Carmel Hospital, Colville. In Chewelah, she served at St. Joseph Hospital as director of nursing and served at Dominicare. She also ministered at the hospital as director of pastoral care and as chaplain.  In 2020, Sister Mary returned to Montana where she cared for her sister Therese, until her passing.  She then returned to Chewelah in September of 2023 where she has resided since.

She was a member of the elected leadership for the Dominican Sisters of Spokane. In Montana, Sister Mary ministered as director of nursing at Pondera County Hospital, Conrad.

She had passion for caring for people and loved her work.  Sister Mary anchored her life of service in deep prayer and faith for Christ.  She was determined and had a strong will that propelled her to accomplish anything.  Her love and devotion for family was without end.  Sister Mary enjoyed a good puzzle, good pizza and a cool refreshment while rooting for her Gonzaga Basketball team and working in her garden.

Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, George, Willard, Donald, Lawrence, and Charles; and two sisters, Dorothy Lucas and Therese Van Auken. She is survived by a brother, Albert; a sister, Isabelle Femling; nieces and nephews; and her Dominican Sisters. Memorials may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, Wis., or given online at  "http://www.sinsinawa.org/donate".  Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com.