Sr. Carmela Whitton OSF's Obituary
Sr. Carmela Whitton, age 90 of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana, died Sunday, February 26, 2023 at the convent. Born on February 3, 1933 in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was the youngest of three children born to Norma (nee: Menning) and Alton Whitton. Her mother died when she was two years old and Carmela’s father put the three children in an orphanage until he remarried. Her stepmother had three children of her own.
Carmela went to school at St. Catherine’s in Cincinnati and then to the Academy in Oldenburg. She went on the earn a B.A. from Marian University at Indianapolis in 1960 and a M.A. from St. Mary’s College at Kansas in 1970. She taught at schools in Indiana and Ohio.
At St. Mark’s School in Indianapolis, she taught and also served as school principal. Additional responsibilities involved liturgy planning with adults and youth, chairing the Archdiocesan Teachers’ Advisory Council, serving as superior of a religious house and being a member of a planning team for the consolidation of southside schools.
After leaving teaching, she became a member of a pastoral team at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Midland, Michigan. She served as Coordinator of Liturgy and Coordinator of Christian Service. Carmela continued in Parish Ministry for many years eventually returning to Oldenburg to serve on the General Council for the convent. After finishing her term on council, she moved back to Michigan and continued her work in parish ministry.
Carmela was known for her love of puzzles and was considered an interior designer at heart. She prioritized visiting others, always supporting them on their path of growth and endeavored to help others with their new ministries. She loved parties and vacations and especially enjoyed traveling to state parks. Carm, as she preferred to be called, gave a lifetime of ministry to the people of God. She described her work in pastoral care as, “…where renewal is evident and where I have the opportunity to touch and be touched by many lives.”
Fr. Tim Babcock said of her, “Sr. Carm’s life as a religious sister typifies what has taken place in the life of religious women in the last 25-30 years…Thank you, God, for Sr. Carm! Thank you Sr. Carm!”
Sr. Carmela is survived by her brother Jerald as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her stepmother Margaret Whitton; brothers Donald and James and sisters Marjorie and Marianne.
Visitation will be Monday, March 6th, from 10 – 11 a.m. at the convent chapel. Funeral services follow at 11 a.m. with Rev. Ken Overberg officiating. Burial will be in the convent cemetery. For those unable to attend, services will be live-streamed at: https://youtube.com/live/-wkI9wAoGwE?feature=share. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Indiana, 47036 (www.OldenburgFranciscans.org).
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