Obituary
Sister Darlene Hoch taught in six states
January 5, 2023
Sister Darlene Hoch, a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis, taught in six states throughout her 71-year teaching career. She died in Milwaukee on Dec. 29. She was 89.
A funeral Mass is scheduled for Jan. 10 at St. Joseph Chapel, with burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, both in Milwaukee.
Born on July 31, 1933, in Knoxville, Iowa, Sister Darlene entered the School Sisters of St. Francis on June 13, 1951. She made her first profession of vows in 1953 and her final vows in 1959.
In the Archdiocese of Omaha, Sister Darlene taught at Ryan High School in Omaha (1958-1963, 1974-1978, and 1980-1983), St. John the Baptist School in Petersburg (1964-1967), and Holy Name High School in Omaha (1983-1987). All of those schools are now closed.
After retiring from teaching, Sister Darlene was a volunteer and switchboard operator at St. Joseph Center in Milwaukee. She also served in the ministry of prayer and presence at Maria Linden Senior Apartments in Milwaukee and at Sacred Heart, the School Sisters of St. Francis’ continuum of care convent.
Sister Darlene is survived by her sisters Patricia Slykhuis of Knoxville; Marjorie Simmerman and Diana King, both of Indianola, Iowa; Naomi Coppick of Altoona, Iowa; and Elaine Garity of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; brothers Arnold Hoch of Moberly, Missouri; Roland Hoch of Clive, Iowa, and Clifford Hoch of Dallas, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; and by the School Sisters of St. Francis Community.