Sister Carlene O'Donnell, RSM

O’Donnell RSM, Sister Carlene, a Sister of Mercy for 73 years died on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at Mount St. Rita Health Centre.  She was born in Providence, Rhode Island, the daughter of Charles H. O’Donnell and Mary (Hurley) O’Donnell.  She was preceded in death by her sister Ruth O’Donnell and her brothers Charles, Thomas, and Joseph O’Donnell.  She is survived by two nieces Kathleen O’Donnell Boyle of Florence, Oregon and Teresa O’Donnell Pollitt of LaJolla, California and nephew Charles O’Donnell of Langlois, Oregon, and a dear friend, Gail Sassi.

Sister entered the Sisters of Mercy on September 8, 1948, and having earned a Masters of Reading at Rhode Island College would continue her ministry of teaching children and training new teachers.  Many students would contribute their later success to the skills imparted in Sister’s classes.

The 1970’s saw a call to religious to respond to the call of Vatican II to assist the Church to meet the needs of the twentieth century.  With its emphasis on the Gospel message, renewal of liturgy and involvement of laity, the Council inspired women like Sister to prepare to work in parishes.  After working in a parish Sister went to Fordham University and earned a Masters in Religious Education.  She would come back to serve in parishes such as St. Catherine, Apponaug and Christ the King in Kingston. It was here Sister said she formed strong bonds of spirituality with the other teachers and created lasting relationships within the community.

After twenty years in parish ministry, she was asked by the Principal of St. Mary Academy Bay View to return to the school as a guidance counselor for the middle school young women.  At first, she hesitated unsure of the change, but once she accepted the position, she found that it was another growth period for her.  When she retired, she volunteered in parishes until moving to Mount St Rita to be present to the needs of other residents and staff.

For her seventieth anniversary she reflected that CARITAS was her motto.  She wrote “I have tried to live this word during my years in Mercy, moving from one place of Mercy Ministry to another.  We who know Sister celebrate her life of CARITAS.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 15, 2022 at St. John Vianney Church, 3587 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mercy Prayer Service at 10:15 a.m.  Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Sister’s memory to the Sisters of Mercy, www.sistersofmercy.org/donate, would be appreciated.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sister Carlene O'Donnell, RSM, please visit our floral store.