Sister Germaine Wannemacher, age 95, of the Sisters of St. Francis in Tiffin, died at 12:35 am Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at St. Francis Home.
She was born December 20, 1912, in Payne, Ohio, to Alphonse J. and Eva G. (Pepiot) Wannemacher.
Surviving are: one sister, Mary Litzenberg of Payne, OH; and two brothers, Richard Wannemacher, and Robert Wannemacher, both of Payne, OH.
She was preceded in death by her parents, five sisters: Eva Wannemacher, Bertha Wilson, Sharon Wannemacher, Helen McBane, Teresa Trabel, and six brothers: Bernard Wannemacher, Herman Wannemacher, Charles Wannemacher, Alphonse Wannemacher, John Wannemacher, and Louis Wannemacher.
Sister Germaine served as teacher and/or principal in Fort Jennings, Edgerton, Reed, Blakeslee, Landeck, Carey, Peru, Bucyrus, New Washington, and Toledo Central Catholic High School. She was housemother for the Senior Boys at St. Anthony Villa, and later she worked with the elderly and the poor in Toledo. In Progresso, Texas, she was morning secretary for the parish and assisted in ministry with Sister Eveline Hug and Sister Anna Marie Mangette. Sister Germaine served as a volunteer and staff member at St. Anthony Pilgrim House in Carey, and at St. Joseph Renewal Center in Tiffin. Returning to her home town of Payne, she was a substitute Kindergarten teacher, housekeeper, and religion teacher. Until the time of her illness, Sister Germaine was a Minister of Service as Hospitality Coordinator at St. Francis Convent.
Sister Germaine is known for her energy to learn, her love for life and her willingness to serve. She said, “From the schoolroom, to the care for severely mentally challenged children, to working with the Hispanic people in Texas, to food service as a volunteer, God kept me going, giving me one new experience after another.”
The Funeral Mass will be 2 pm Friday, June 20, 2008 in the St. Francis Convent Chapel, 200 St. Francis Ave., Tiffin, Ohio 44883. Burial will be in St. Francis Convent cemetery.
Visitation will be at the Convent Chapel, from 6-8 PM Thursday, June 19, 2008. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 7 PM at the chapel.