Sister Angela Marie Hinckley

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Sister Angela Marie Hinckley

December 13, 1921 ~ September 4, 2019

Sister Angela Marie Hinckley, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Family for 64 years, died September 4, 2019, at the age of 97 at the Sisters’ motherhouse in Fremont, California. She was born Agnes Hinckley on December 13, 1921, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Mearl and Mary Reilly Hinckley. She grew up in Salt Lake City and attended Judge Memorial Catholic High School. She entered the Sisters of the Holy Family from the Cathedral of the Madeleine Parish in Salt Lake City on July 2, 1956, at the age of 34.

Sister Angela was a flight attendant for Western Airlines for 10 years before joining the sisters. She began her ministry as a sister in the San Francisco Bay area, working in religious education both there and in southern California, until she was moved to Helper, Utah, in 1961. She worked in Helper and Tooele in elementary and secondary religious education until 1974, and then returned to California for five years in the Office of Religious Education in the Diocese of Sacramento.

Sister Angela Marie returned to Utah in 1979 and served in a variety of places and ministries: director of religious education for the Diocese of Salt Lake City; coordinator of the Office for the Handicapped for the Diocese of Salt Lake City; pastoral associate for St. Lawrence Mission in Heber City and St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City; and director of social and human concerns for St. Vincent de Paul in Salt Lake City. She returned to the motherhouse in Fremont, California, in 2004, where she resided until her death.

While in Heber City, Sister Angela Marie started a small thrift store, bringing donations from Park City for sale in her other place of ministry. The St. Lawrence Thrift Store has thrived and expanded over the years, now selling clothing, household items and furniture. At St. Vincent de Paul Parish, she ran a food pantry and managed a fund to assist families in need. Sr. Angela had a special interest in helping poor families, the homeless and women needing assistance.  In her honor, St. Vincent de Paul Parish established the Sister Angela Marie Fund, which continues to provide support to those in need.

Sr. Angela was a great reader and enjoyed reading the New York Times daily until her vision declined in the last few years. She loved chocolate, coffee, good conversation, a glass of wine and a good book. She was very close to her four sisters: Maureen Platt, Margaret Ensign, Mary Hinckley and Eileen Fox, all of whom preceded her in death. She played a big part in the lives of her many nieces and nephews and extended family, who will miss her dearly.  Sr. Angela Marie dedicated her life to others and impacted the lives of many.

A memorial Mass was celebrated at the motherhouse on October 13, 2019. St. Vincent de Paul Parish will dedicate the 10 a.m. Mass on Christmas Day to Sr. Angela Marie in recognition of her dedication and hard work. The family is planning a memorial Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in the near future.

Memorial remembrances may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Family, P.O. Box 3248, Fremont, CA 94539.