A memorial Mass for Sister Carolyn Brambilla, OP, was celebrated Dec. 12 at Nazareth Living Center in south St. Louis County. Sister Carolyn of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, New York, died on Dec. 3 at Nazareth Living Center. She was 90 years old.
Born in St. Louis on Sept. 3, 1933, Carolyn Theresa was the daughter of Harry and Teresa (Sasso) Brambilla. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on Sept. 8, 1951, and received the name Sister Maria Goretti. She professed her first vows in 1953 and final vows in 1958.
Sister Carolyn earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Webster College in St. Louis in 1961. Her ministry of education included St. Paul School in Norwich, New York (1953-56) and in Missouri, she served at St. Mary Magdalen School (1956-63 and 1969-78) and St. Thomas More School (1963-69). She served as pastoral minister at St. Boniface Parish (1978-2005), caregiver at Sisters of St. Joseph Care Ministry (2005-08) and telemarketer for Catholic Extension Society (2007-09).
Sister Carolyn is predeceased by her parents as well as her sisters, Angela Brambilla and Marianne (Edwin) Allgaier. She is survived by numerous cousins, Dominican sisters, associates and friends.
Sister Carolyn made a difference in the lives of countless children, parents and colleagues in her teaching ministry and ministry of care to the elderly. For more than 70 years, she proclaimed the Word of God through ministry for justice and reverence for all God’s creation.
Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.