Sister Mary Emmanuel Goike

Sister Mary Emmanuel of the Eucharist, OP (Mary Kathryne Goike), 85, died Thursday, August 20, 2015 at the St. Dominic’s Nursing Home in Houston, Texas. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 24, 2015 in the Chapel of the Monastery of the Infant Jesus, followed by interment in the Monastery Cemetery. Father Marcus Ramos, OP will officiate. Visitation and rosary will be at 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening at the Monastery of the Infant Jesus.

Sister was born December 15, 1929 in Brownsville, Texas, of Jimme Kathryne Pennington and Leonard Francis Goike. She attended public schools in the Brownsville area for eleven years before attending Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. After leaving college she worked at a riding academy, a photography business and as a civilian employee for the US Air Force Security Service at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio.

Sister Mary Emmanuel entered the Monastery on December 8, 1951. She made her first profession on August 5, 1953 and her Solemn Profession three years later. In her 64 years in the Monastery, Sister held a variety of duties including head of the Altar Bread Department, which involved making, packaging and sending altar breads to Churches throughout Texas and other parts of the United States. For many years, she served as the Chantress for the daily liturgy. She also made the Sisters’ habits and assisted in making liturgical vestments. In addition to her assigned duties, Sister volunteered in designing and making equipment for the Altar Bread work, and put her photography skills to work for our newsletter, Monastery Bells. She especially devoted to the upkeep of the Monastery grounds and buildings. Sister was also an avid Ham-radio operator (KC5AQ) active on a number of networks, especially missionary ones.

Survivors include niece, Lecrisa Guston; nephew, Douglas L. Goike; niece, Pamela L. Goike; and nephew, Eric J. Goike.

Sister is preceded in death by her father, Leonard in 1982; her mother, Jimme, in 1958; and her brother, Leonard, in January 13, 1992.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Brian Carlin, Richard Hardesty, Steve Powell, Kevin Adams, Jaime Nofsinger, and John O’Connor.

We thank God for Sister Mary Emmanuel’s long and faithful life as a Cloistered Dominican Nun.

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.