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Grand Rapids, Michigan (January 2, 2008) - Aquinas College joins with the Grand Rapids community in mourning the death of a friend, Grace Hauenstein, 96, who passed away Christmas Day. A funeral Mass was held December 29, 2007.

For nearly 76 years, Grace was married to Ralph Hauenstein. The two were inseparable and were described as the “perfect team.” Their philanthropic endeavors in the Grand Rapids area included support for the Aquinas College library (2006) which bears her name, the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University and the Saint Mary’s Health Care Hauenstein Neurosciences Center, which is expected to open in September.

“It’s very hard to find people who are nicer to everybody and they were kind and generous and admirable in almost every way,” according to Dr. C. Edward Balog, President of Aquinas College.

Hauenstein was a native of Big Rapids and later graduated from the nursing education program at Saint Mary’s Hospital.