A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Mary Clement Hemler, D.C., was celebrated December 29, 2018, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, Md. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Emmitsburg. Sister Mary Clement died December 22, 2018, at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg. She was 86 years of age and 68 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Reisterstown, Md., on June 24, 1932, Sister Mary Clement (baptized June Jeter) was one of eight children born to Clement Dominic and Mary Louise (Sanford) Hemler.
A 1950 graduate of Seton High School, Baltimore; Sister earned two degrees at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Education there in 1958 and her Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration there in 1969. She entered the Community of the Daughters of Charity on December 18, 1950.
Following initial formation, Sister Mary Clement first served as a Teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes School, Utica, N.Y. (1952 to 1955). Following this, Sister began her nursing studies, first at St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, and then at Providence Hospital, Washington, D.C. (1955 to 1958) and served as Nurse Supervisor at St. Vincent Hospital, Bridgeport, Conn., (1958 to 1967). Sister returned to school for her Master’s Degree at Catholic University (1967 to 1969). After graduation Sister served as Nurse Supervisor at DePaul Hospital, Norfolk, Va., (1969 to 1973); Director of Nursing at St. Vincent Medical Center, Jacksonville, Fla., (1973 to 1974); Assistant Administrator in Nursing at St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Md., (1974 to 1986); Patient Visitor at Sacred Heart Hospital, Pensacola, Fla., (1986 to 1987). Sister was missioned next to Sacred Heart Hospital, Cumberland, Md., where she served at Vice President of Nursing Services (1974 to 1986). From there, she returned to Emmitsburg to serve as Nurse and Instructor at Villa St. Michael (1988 to 1994) and then to St. Ann’s Infant Home, Hyattsville, Md., to serve as a Nurse (1994 to 1999). In 2001, Sister was missioned to St. Vincent Medical Center, Jacksonville, Fla., where she served as Vincentian Coordinator (1999 to 2001) before returning to St. Ann’s Infant Home, Hyattsville (2001 to 2016). Sister Mary Clement was missioned to Villa St. Michael in 2016 where she served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sister Mary Clement was preceded in death by her parents; her twin brother, Dick Hemler; and four other siblings. She is survived by her sisters, Margaret Wirts and Ethel Doe; her nieces and nephews; and her Sisters in Community.