Mary L. Niemann

Mary Niemann, born August 9th, 1933, passed away December 12th, 2020. She was the daughter of a country preacher, Arthur Niemann and Emma Oldenburg Niemann and grew up in Bishop, Texas. At age 15 Mary went to boarding school at St. John's Academy in Winfield, KS. She said some of the girls were terribly homesick but she never was. Already showing signs of her independence and adventurous personality. In 1952, at age 19, Mary started nurses training at the University of Houston Central College of Nursing and in 1956 started working at Hermann Hospital/Methodist Building in pediatrics. In 1959 she went to Honolulu working at a children's hospital for the next 18 months. When her brother Ernie became sick she came home and in 1961 began working at Texas Children's Hospital, commuting from Pattison, TX where her parents were living at the time. This was the beginning of a 35 year career with Texas Children's Hospital where she was soon promoted to head nurse until continuing her education to earn a B.S. in Health Physical Education. In 1967 she became an instructor. She became a super advocate for patient/families, showing concern and great compassion. She was always ready to offer a helping hand to her fellow workers and this attitude continued in every aspect of her life. After she retired she continued her work with St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, as well as volunteering at the EEAC, belonging to a book club, a bowling league and a neighborhood walking group. But family was her joy, especially the children. You could usually see her taking pictures at holidays, birthdays, weddings, all kinds of family events. If she could, she would be there. She was the family conduit and she will be missed. She is survived by her oldest sister, Audrey Henze and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great great nieces and great great nephews.