COLUMBIA - Mass of Resurrection will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Columbia, with burial in Elmwood Cemetery. The Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m., Friday, January 16, 2015 at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, Columbia, with visitation following until 7:30 p.m. A reception will follow the burial at the home of V.J. Degenhart, M.D., 415 Harden Street, Columbia. Memorials may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3512 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205. Mrs. Degenhart died Thursday, January 15, 2015. She was born in Ottawa, Canada in 1923, the daughter of the late Vincent Braceland and Anna Chandler Braceland. Mrs. Degenhart was the Florence (S.C.) County and S.C. Catholic Woman of the Year in 1971, was instrumental in launching the Florence Symphony Guild, successfully bringing the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to Florence for a workshop and performance with local students under renowned director, Robert Shaw. She also helped coordinate the first Florence “Dirt Alert,” the “Florence Loves America” campaign and Florence’s first “All-America City” designation. Mrs. Degenhart was active in civic organizations for many years in Buffalo, N.Y., Marietta and Ashtabula, Ohio, Irvington, N.Y. and Kiawah Island, S.C. She was most active in Florence, S.C. where 6 of her 8 children attended high school prior to college. Mrs. Degenhart was very active with St. Anthony’s Catholic Church organizations and endeavors. She will be fondly remembered as a master bridge player. Survivors of Mrs. Degenhart include her beloved husband of 70 years, Robert; sons, Paul (Mary Nell) and Vincent, M.D. (Denice); daughters, Ann Vaiden, Mary Gallery and Janet Enoch, all of Columbia; son, William, M.D. (Jan) and daughter, Rita Wilhelm (Jerry) both of Savannah, Ga.; and daughter, Frances Robey (Dennison, M.D.) of Florence, S.C. She is also survived by her sister, Rita Langan of Toronto, Canada and brother, Hugh Braceland of Ottawa, Canada. A brother, Rev. Lawrence Braceland, S.J. and three sisters, Reverend Sister Phyllis Braceland, r.s.c.j., Jean Bertrand and Agnes Henchey preceded Mrs. Degenhart in death. Mrs. Degenhart is also survived by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The family extends special thanks to Mrs. Degenhart’s heathcare providers at Palmetto Health Baptist and Palmetto Health Richland, especially the staff of ICU and Hospice. In addition, special thanks to her personal physicians: Francis Goldstein, M.D., Michael Foster, M.D., Lloyd Clark, M.D., all of Columbia, S.C. and Robert King, M.D. of Savannah, Ga.
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