Emma Josephine Potter

On August 19, 2025, Emma Josephine (Hoeffner) Potter, "Em" to her brothers and sisters, passed away at the age of 93. She resided in Moore, Oklahoma, for the majority of her adult life.

Emma was born on March 19, 1932, in Floral Park, Long Island, NY, to Philip and Theresa (Wulforst) Hoeffner. She was the eighth of ten children. She graduated from high school in Arkport, NY, where she was the valedictorian of her class.

She went on to receive a diploma in nursing from Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing in Manhattan, NY; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with distinction from Rochester University; and a Master of Science in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Maryland.

Emma began her nursing career as an O.R. nurse at Bellevue Hospital in NYC and later at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY. She then transitioned into teaching, serving as a professor of psychiatric nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for two years and at the University of Oklahoma for twenty-three years. She was a tenured faculty member at OU and was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus of Nursing upon her retirement. She concluded her career working as a psychiatric nurse at Griffin Memorial Hospital.

While teaching at Chapel Hill, Emma also served in the U.S. Army Reserves of Nursing, where she attained the rank of Major.

She participated in numerous community and professional organizations during the course of her career, including the Association of Operating Room Nurses, the American Nurses' Association, the National League for Nursing, and the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma County. She was a founding member of the Beta Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau at OU, the Honor Society of Nursing.

Emma was a devoted member of St. Andrew's Catholic Church, where she was involved in the Prayer Network and performed many other volunteer services.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul Ennis Potter; her brothers, Philip Hoeffner, Thomas Hoeffner, George Hoeffner, and Robert Hoeffner; and her sisters, Marion Dorfer, Irene Briggs, and Theresa Hoeffner.

She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Wilson of Oklahoma City; her son, Paul Potter, and his wife, Karen, of Fort Worth, TX; and her granddaughters, Alexandra Wilson, Madeleine Potter, and Penelope Potter. She is also survived by her sisters, Helen Burke of Hornell, NY, and Josephine Donaghue of Rochester, NY, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Monday, August 25, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 PM at John Ireland Funeral Home, Moore, OK.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on August 26, 2025, at 1:00 PM at St. Mark's Catholic Church, Norman, OK. Interment will immediately follow at Resthaven Cemetery, with military honors.

The funeral Mass will be live-streamed via a link provided on the John Ireland Funeral Home website.