Aston, PA—Sister Mary Carmel Molloy (formerly Sister Carmelette), 81, died in Assisi House on October 11, 2021. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 59 years. Sister Mary Carmel was born in Galway, Ireland, where she was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Mallow and a graduate of Presentation High School. She entered the congregation in 1959 and professed her first vows in 1962.  She earned a BA in English from Marylhurst University, an MA in secondary education/administration from Portland State University, and an MA in theological studies from Chicago Theological Union.  She ministered primarily in education and social/missionary work.

Sister Mary Carmel ministered for many years on the West Coast.  She served for five years in the Archdiocese of Seattle where she taught at St. Charles Borromeo School in Tacoma and Our Lady of Lourdes School in Seattle.  Her nine years in the Diocese of San Bernardino saw her teaching at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, St. Thomas School, and Notre Dame High School, all in Riverside. She spent eight years in the Archdiocese of Portland as an assistant principal at LaSalle High School in Milwaukie and as a teacher at Central Catholic High School in Portland.  Additional ministry included one year of teaching at St. Mary Magdalen School in the Diocese of San Diego.

Sister Carmel ministered for five years in Antigua doing missionary work at Holy Family Cathedral Parish. She also spent six years in her native Ireland as a tutor at Seville House and Mayoralty House, both in Galway.

Sister Mary Carmel ministered for three years in the Diocese of Wilmington at St. Martin’s House in Ridgely, Maryland, and most recently, several months at Mother Marianne’s Westside Kitchen in Utica, New York, in the Syracuse Diocese.

In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Sister Carmel spent eight years as a member of the congregational council and an additional eight years as a volunteer for the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation at Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston. She also ministered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Doylestown in parish ministry.  In late 2021, she moved to Assisi House, where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.

All services will be held in Assisi House on Tuesday, October 19. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial at will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Mary Carmel Molloy is survived by her two brothers, Patrick and Nicholas, by her many nieces and nephews, and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.

Click here to read a more personal memorial write-up on Sister Carmel.