Sr. Lorraine Humphrey, IHM, 92, died Thursday, Dec. 16, at her home, the IHM Sisters’ Motherhouse.
Sister Lorraine was born Sept. 20, 1929, in Highland Park, Mich., to Canadian parents Hugh and Amelia (McQuiggan Smith) Humphrey. The family of four daughters and five sons attended Blessed Sacrament Parish and schools. After graduation from Blessed Sacrament High School, Lorraine was accepted at Marygrove College (Detroit), where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1952, she entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Monroe) and received the religious name Sister Paul Joseph.
Sister Paul Joseph began her teaching ministry in 1953 at St. Joseph, Monroe; St. Agnes and St. Boniface, Detroit; and St. Alphonsus Liguori, San Leandro, Calif. In 1963 she was missioned to Santa Teresita, Santurce, Puerto Rico and began studies at Barry College, Miami, where she earned a master’s degree. Upon returning to Michigan, she began years of service to her community as Formation Director, Assistant Provincial for the Northwest Region, and as co-coordinator of the IHM Theology Project which spanned five years.
Sister “Honey,” as she was known to most people, returned to her ministry in guidance and counseling for the Program for Spirituality (Cincinnati), and with senior citizens through the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. In 1979, she accepted a position as guidance counselor at Marian High School (Bloomfield) where she ministered for almost ten years. Sister Lorraine’s talents were many, as she then served as business manager, assistant director and co-director of Artisans International (Highland Park).
For many years, Sister Honey lived in Farmington Hills while she served the students of Our Lady of the Lakes High School as guidance counselor. Into retirement, she volunteered at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen (Detroit), attended to many community events, and cared for her fellow IHM Sisters before retiring to the IHM Motherhouse in 2013.
Sister Lorraine is survived by many nieces and nephews and her sisters in community. She was preceded in death by brothers, Norman, Thomas, Hugh, John and Paul; and sisters Marie, Eleanor, and Patricia.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, services will be private at the IHM Motherhouse Chapel on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Services will be Livestreamed beginning at 10 a.m. and may be viewed until Jan. 9, 2022. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, MI 48162-7909.
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
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