Carmen Hench, 77, formerly of Libby

Carmen Hench of San Jose, Calif., died Dec. 18, 2013, after a valiant battle with cancer.

Carmen was born Aug. 15, 1936, in Libby, the daughter of Joseph and Edna Pondelick. She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Montana State University where she was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha honor society.

Carmen married John E. Hench in 1958, and they traveled throughout the country before settling in San Jose, Calif., where they raised three sons.

Carmen worked as a nurse for more than 50 years, most recently as an infection control nurse at VMC, publishing many papers and training medical professionals. She was recognized as a pioneer in the early years of infection control.

Carmen was an avid gardener with the ability to coax life into a wide variety of plants and flowers. She loved to decorate, particularly at Christmas, filling her home with joy and family to celebrate the holidays. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother whose knowledge of medicine guided the entire Hench family for two generations.

Carmen is survived by her husband, John; sisters, Teree and Gaye; sons, Jim (Gerri), John (Anna), Jere (Leslie) and nine grandchildren, whom she adored.

A memorial Mass will be held in her honor at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28.