HAMMOND | Carole Hepner had life figured out when she was a little girl.

"I knew since I was in third grade that I wanted to be a teacher," Hepner said. "I just somehow knew back then that teaching was something that I wanted to do."

Hepner's youthful intuition proved profoundly prophetic. She is retiring after this school year, following 44 years as a math teacher at Bishop Noll Institute.

"It's hard to believe that it's been 44 years since I started teaching here," Hepner said. "I've been blessed in that time to meet a lot of wonderful people and make so many good friends."

Hepner's retirement and career were celebrated with a gala Saturday at Knights of Columbus Hall in East Chicago. A large gathering of her friends honored Hepner, who for the past two decades has served as chairman of Bishop Noll's math department.

"It was a wonderful thing for them to do," Hepner said. "It was great to see so many of old friends and bring back so many great memories."

Hepner was a member of the Bishop Noll family before she began teaching. She graduated in 1959 from Bishop Noll before attending College of St. Francis in Joliet.

Fate intervened after she graduated in 1963 and enabled her to work at her alma mater. At the time of her graduation, Bishop Noll was expanding, which led to an offer for her to teach there. The rest has been a history of meting out life lessons to lucky students.

One of Hepner's former students is Bishop Noll's principal, Scott Fech, a 1985 Bishop Noll graduate.

"She's a great teacher," Fech said. "I enjoyed being in her class. She was tough in a good way and demanded that you do your best in the classroom at all times.

"She's going to be awfully hard to replace," Fech continued. "I don't know if you can replace someone like Carole. When I started here as a principal I was glad to have her here.

"She's been part of the school family for a long time and contributed to the school in ways that go beyond the classroom. I wish her the best in her well deserved retirement."

Hepner's contributions to the Noll community resounded outside the classroom. She served as a cheerleader sponsor, and her talent with needle and thread was put to good use when she was called upon to make costumes for school plays.

"I've enjoyed everything about my experience at Bishop Noll," Hepner said.

Her life has been a model of stability and loyalty. She lives in the South Hammond house she grew up in and still attends St. Joseph's Church in Hammond, the church where she was baptized in as a child.

Hepner said her retirement plans include travel and doing volunteer work for such organizations as Habitat for Humanity.

"Whatever she does, she will do it with the same commitment she gave to her students," Fech said.