Sr. Martha Garber

Sister Martha Garber, 86, a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, died peacefully at 8:30 p.m.on Monday, August 15, 2011 at St. Vincent Mercy Hospital in Elwood, Indiana, where she had once served as Director of Nursing.

Martha Nell Garber, the last of eight children born to Philomena (Slevin) Garber and Grover Garber, was born in Marion, Indiana on April 9, 1925. She was baptized in St. Paul Catholic Church, Marion, and graduated from the parish school.

During her time as a student at St. Joseph Academy in Tipton, Martha expressed interest in life as a Sister of St. Joseph, and entered the Congregation on September 1, 1942. Upon receiving the religious habit she was given the name Sister Theophane and professed her final vows on July 2, 1948. Following Vatican Council II, Sister Theophane resumed her baptismal name and was known as Sister Martha.

A registered nurse, Sister Martha was a 1948 graduate of the Good Samaritan School of Nursing in Kokomo. In 1971 she earned a Bachelor of Nursing Degree from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas. For more than five decades, Sister Martha dedicated her life to caring for others in a variety of settings. She served as a surgical nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Kokomo, as Director of Nursing at Mercy Hospital in Elwood, and as Nursing Supervisor at St. Charles Hospital in Bend, Oregon. In 1972, Sister Martha began her twenty-five year ministry at Logansport State Hospital, where she served as Nursing Supervisor, Patient Review Coordinator, Quality Assurance Coordinator and Director of Quality Management. She was the recipient of numerous awards, from both the State Hospital and the State of Indiana, which recognized both her clinical competency and devotion to those she served.

In 2004 Sister Martha moved to St. Joseph Center in Tipton where she continued to care for others by offering her wisdom, time, and loving attention to the sisters and residents who reside there. Sister Martha often drove Sisters to their appointments and was able to help them understand the complexities of their illness. It was a special joy for her to care for her sister, both in Logansport and when Louise spent the last few years of her life with Sister Martha at St. Joseph Center.

Sister Martha was an avid sports fan and thoroughly enjoyed watching the games, especially if the Colts or Pacers were playing. She knew the players, their stats and information from games played long ago. An observer could tell who won by watching the expression on her face. Sister Martha was an excellent conversationalist, always willing to listen to others and contribute to the conversation at hand.

Sister Martha was preceded in death by her parents and five brothers – Henry, Edward, Louis, Eugene and James Garber and her sisters, Mary Esther Garber and Louise Garber Culp. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Kathleen Garber, Fort Wayne; many devoted nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews and the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph. She leaves a legacy of caring, faith, and the will to face any circumstance with determination. Her love of God, family, neighbor and her devotion to St. Joseph will long be remembered.

Visitation is scheduled at St. Joseph Center Chapel in Tipton, Indiana for Sunday, August 21, beginning at 4:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday morning, August 22, preceding the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m., at which Father Keith Hosey will preside. Burial will be in the Cemetery at St. Joseph Center following the Mass. May Sr. Martha rest in Christ’s eternal peace.

Young-Nichols Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.