(1931-2025)

Every now and again, God graces us by sending someone into our lives who is simply guileless. And this would be Charlotte. She didn’t necessarily see the world through rose colored glasses, but she didn’t view the world with suspicion, either. As a spiritual director, Charlotte generally saw people as good, as promising, and as having potential for greater goodness. Thus, she was always willing to invest herself in their growth, and to continue walking with them over the long haul.

This was Sister Carol Johannes’ description of Sister Charlotte Hoefer, founder of the Dominican Center for Religious Development (now called Dominican Center: Spirituality for Mission) in Detroit, in her homily for Sister Charlotte’s funeral Mass.

Sister Charlotte was born on August 3, 1931, in Lafayette, Indiana, at St. Elizabeth Hospital, the facility where her paternal grandfather worked. She said in her autobiography that he and some Franciscan Sisters had come from Germany to found the hospital, and he managed the hospital farm for years.

Her parents, Joseph and Marie (Reuter) Hoefer, actually lived in Chicago, and as soon as their new baby – who was their first child – was able to travel, they returned home. Over the next four years, the couple welcomed two more children, first Rita and then Joseph, who was born the day before Charlotte’s fourth birthday. 

“My parents remarked that he was my birthday present,” she wrote. “They also gave me a large doll cradle which I thought they had given me to take care of my baby brother. I was greatly relieved when I realized my mother was caring for him.”

Their last child, Michael, came into the world not long after Charlotte became a novice in 1947.

Read more about Sister Charlotte (PDF) 

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Note: To view recordings with closed captioning, they must be viewed on our public video library rather than through the links below.

Recording of Sister Charlotte's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Charlotte's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

 

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