Sister Jean Vogel, GNSH, formerly known as Sister Stella Maris, died Feb. 10, 2017, in Philadelphia, at 91 years of age.
She was born Jan. 1, 1926, in Cohocton, to Karl and Amelia (Kiefer) Vogel, and was a Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart for a total of 64 years. Throughout her ministry, she served in various positions in the field of education for children, college students and adults at various institutions. She began teaching at schools in Rochester and in Highland Park, Illinois, before joining the order.
Sister Jean received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Geneseo State Teachers College, and a master's degree in administration and supervision in elementary education from Northwestern University. For 13 years, Sister Jean served as D'Youville College in Buffalo as assistant dean of academic affairs, assistant and dean of arts and sciences, and as the college's assistant registrar.
Elsewhere in the country, she taught at high schools in Pennsylvania and Georgia. In the Diocese of Trenton, she served as co-director of the diocesan RENEW program and as associate director and director of the Office of Evangelization and Parish Life from 1984-90.
In 1990, she began serving as superior of the Grey Nuns' motherhouse's infirmary until 1997, when she semi-retired. She served in positions within the congregation until 2002 and volunteered at a local hospice and nursing home. In 2008, she began a prayer ministry. She became a resident of the order's St. Joseph Manor in Meadowbrook, Pa., in 2010, when her health declined further.
Sister Jean is survived by her sister, Anne Watson, as well as nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was held at Holy Redeemer Sisters Chapel in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., followed by burial in Resurrection Cemetery, also in Pennsylvania.