Sr. Regina Mary Affholter, IHM, 84, died Dec. 19 at the IHM Motherhouse in Monroe. She had been under Mercy Memorial Hospice Care of Monroe. She was 84 and had been a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for 66 years.

Born in 1927 in Wyandotte and given the name Rita, whe was one of four children of Lloyd and Irene (Stewart) Affholter. She attended Woodruff and St. Patrick elementary schools in Wyandotte and St. Patrick, Wyandotte and St. Mary Academy in Monroe. Sr. Affholter earned a bachelor’s degree from Marygrove College and her master’s degree from Ball State University in Indiana.She taught in formal education for 42 years at Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Help, St. Boniface, St. Patrick and Holy Redeemer, all in Detroit; St. John in Benton Harbor; St. Peter Claver in Mobile, Ala; Our Lady of Lourdes in River Rouge; and Hall of the Divine Child in Monroe.

In 1973 Sr. Affholter began teaching at Holy Redeemer. She taught for 21 years at the elementary school, followed by 13 years as director of the Getting Educationally Motivated (GEM) program. This program – which is still running today – provides academic and social support for students whose learning problems may slow the progress of the rest of the class. She solicited many retired teachers to help with the tutoring. Sister Regina Mary retired in 2003. She became a health care patient in 2006 and resided in the IHM Health Care Center until her death. She had been under Mercy Memorial Hospice Care of Monroe.

She is survived by her brother, Lloyd, and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Betty Ann Payette and Nancy Blanchette.

Sr. Affholter’s funeral Mass was Dec. 22 at the IHM Motherhouse.

Memorials to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, 48162-7909.